Black X Pied Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae X Himantopus leucocephalus)

We saw no pure Black Stilts on our visit. This appears to be a hybrid. The Black Stilt is endemic to New Zealand. Formerly common it is now critically endangered with a total population of fewer than 100. The main cause of the decline is predation by introduced mammals but hybridization with Pied Stilt is also a factor. Although immature Black Stilts can be difficult to separate from immature Pied Stilts, the adult Black Stilt is entirely black. Typical hybrids resemble Pied Stilts but have a variable black band across their foreneck. This individual is on the dark side and may represent a backcross. It is close to hybrid type F described in HANZAB as "white on underparts increased to form irregular belly-patch, with scattered black streaking; and white on face expanded but retaining neat circular pattern round base of bill."