Hawaiian Stilt/ Ae’o

Description:

I was surprised to see a group of four stilts together, I usually only see them by themselves. Photos 1 & 2 depict group behavior (resting/ preening) while the remaining depict solitary hunting behavior. I would have to guess that the birds in the group are not nesting and the remaining birds are nesting. Thus the differences in their behavior. Among birds, Hawaiian Stilts have some of the longest legs in the world. They differ from the Black-necked Stilt in that they have more black on their necks and face. Additionally their bill and tail are longer.

Habitat:

The large majority of the population is located on Maui, O'ahu and Kaua'i. Hawaiian Stilts are most often seen in wetlands

Notes:

Although the Black-necked Stilt population is listed as secure, the Hawaiian subspecies is listed as imperiled.