The white-backed stilt is a locally abundant shorebird of South American wetlands and coastlines. It is found from northwest Brazil to southwest Peru and southcentral Argentina.
Region
South America
Typical Environment
Occurs from northwest Brazil and southwest Peru south through Bolivia and Paraguay to south-central Argentina, with records in Uruguay and parts of Chile. It inhabits freshwater and saline wetlands, including marshes, shallow lakes, mudflats, estuaries, rice fields, and salt pans. Birds concentrate where water levels expose broad shallow margins and soft substrates. It adapts well to human-made wetlands such as reservoirs and agricultural impoundments.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 3000 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Often treated as a distinct South American species, the white-backed stilt was once lumped with the Black-necked Stilt. It favors shallow wetlands where its extremely long pink legs allow for efficient wading. Breeding pairs typically nest on small islets or raised mud scrapes and vigorously mob intruders. In some regions it makes local post-breeding movements following changing water levels.
Temperament
social and alert
Flight Pattern
strong flier with rapid, shallow wingbeats; legs trailing well beyond the tail
Social Behavior
Often forages and roosts in small to large groups, especially outside the breeding season. Breeds colonially or in loose colonies on low islets and shorelines, building simple nests of vegetation or mud. Pairs are monogamous within a season and perform distraction displays and group mobbing against predators.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are sharp, carrying yaps and kek-kek-kek alarm notes, frequently given in flight or during mobbing. Calls accelerate and become harsher near the nest or when disturbed.
Plumage
Striking black-and-white stilt with a largely white back and underparts contrasting with black wings and mantle; head shows a black cap with variable extent on the neck.
Diet
Feeds mainly on aquatic invertebrates such as insect larvae, beetles, crustaceans, and small mollusks, and will also take tadpoles and small fish when available. It gleans from the surface, picks from substrates, and probes soft mud in very shallow water. Foraging often involves quick, stilted strides and sweeping the bill side to side.
Preferred Environment
Shallow margins of lakes, ponds, marshes, salt pans, estuaries, and flooded fields. Frequently uses human-altered wetlands like rice paddies and evaporation ponds where water depths are ankle-deep for the bird.
