Hawaiian stilt

The Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) is an endangered Hawaiian subspecies of the black-necked stilt (H. mexicanus) species. It is a long-legged, slender shorebird with a long, thin beak. Other common names include the Hawaiian black-necked stilt, the aeʻo (from a Hawaiian name for the bird and word for stilts), the kukuluaeʻo (a Hawaiian name for the bird and word for “one standing high”), or it may be referred to as the Hawaiian subspecies of the black-necked stilt. The Hawaiian stilt is usually classified as a subspecies of the black-necked stilt, Himantopus himantopus knudseni, or even as its own species, Himantopus knudseni. The Hawaiian stilt grows up to 38 cm (15 in) in length. It has a black back from head to tail, with a white forehead, face, and underside. Its bill is thin, long and black, and its legs are very long and pink.Sexes are similar, except that the female has a tinge of brown on its back, while the male's back is glossy. Relatively, the Hawaiian stilt has among the longest legs of any bird in the world. Its eyebrows, cheeks, chin, breast, belly and vent are white. Immature birds have a brownish back and a cheek patch like the adult black-necked stilt. Downy chicks are well camouflaged in tan with black speckling. Young look identical to both black-necked and black-winged stilts. Compared to the nominate subspecies, the North American H. m. mexicanus, the black coloration of the Hawaiian stilt extends noticeably farther around its neck and lower on its face than the black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), and its bill, tarsus, and tail are longer. The Hawaiian stilt show strong, flapping flight with dangling legs. They are found in groups, pairs or singly. They have a loud chirp described as sounding like 'kip kip kip'.