Poaka - pied stilt - Himantopus himantopus leucocephalus
These poaka were trying to do their usual roosting habit of standing on one leg, the other tucked into their body. But the wind was very strong and they kept loosing their balance and having to hop sideways or put the other foot down, creating a comedic show.
Of the five sub species of pied stilt, leucocephalus extends from the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Bismarck Archepelago to Australia and New Zealand. Pied stilts are more generally known as black-winged stilt overseas and breed all around the world in tropical and warm temperate climates.
The call is a sharp yapping like a small dog. Found throughout New Zealand
in river–beds, shores of lakes and lagoons, and marshy margins of estuaries. It breeds in all these places, the nest never being situated at any great distance from water.
They are wading birds, feeding on insects and their larvae, worms and small shellfish in shallow water.
Size 35 cm., 190 g., black and white wader with very long pink legs and fine black bill. Varibale black on crown, nape, hindneck and collar on the lower neck, black wings and back.
Poaka - pied stilt - Himantopus himantopus leucocephalus
These poaka were trying to do their usual roosting habit of standing on one leg, the other tucked into their body. But the wind was very strong and they kept loosing their balance and having to hop sideways or put the other foot down, creating a comedic show.
Of the five sub species of pied stilt, leucocephalus extends from the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Bismarck Archepelago to Australia and New Zealand. Pied stilts are more generally known as black-winged stilt overseas and breed all around the world in tropical and warm temperate climates.
The call is a sharp yapping like a small dog. Found throughout New Zealand
in river–beds, shores of lakes and lagoons, and marshy margins of estuaries. It breeds in all these places, the nest never being situated at any great distance from water.
They are wading birds, feeding on insects and their larvae, worms and small shellfish in shallow water.
Size 35 cm., 190 g., black and white wader with very long pink legs and fine black bill. Varibale black on crown, nape, hindneck and collar on the lower neck, black wings and back.