FAMILY NAME: Recurvirostridae SCIENTIFIC NAME: Himantopus himantopus SUBSPECIES: none
SIZE: 37cm. (15") tip to tail.
LOCATION: Widespread around the world. Found over almost the entire continent of Australia, but infrequently in Tasmania.
BREEDING: Breeding season varies, but generally from August to December. Clutch size is from 3 to 4 eggs. Both the male and female incubate and feed their young. The nest is either a scraped depression in the ground, or a mound of vegetation.
GENERAL: This bird is widespread and commom. It inhabits fresh or saltwater marshes, mudflats, the banks of rivers or lakes. Commonly found in groups, they are a wading bird, feeding on aquatic insects, molluscs and crustaceans. The body is white, with black nape, back and wings. The tail is white. The legs are long and slender and are orange/red in colour. The bill is straight and black, and the iris is red. In flight the legs trail behind.
References:
Michael Morecombe. Field Guide to Australian Birds, Complete Compact Edtion.
Ken Simpson - Nicholas Day. The Birds of Australia.
M. Blakers - S. J. J. F. Davies - P. N. Reilly. The Atlas of Australian Birds.
Birds in Backyards. www.birdsinbackyards.net
