Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Charadriidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The Hawaiian Stilt is a slender wading bird that grows up to 16 inches in length. It has a black back and white forehead, and is white below; the female has a tinge of brown on its back. This endangered species has very long pink legs and a long black bill. The Hawaiian subspecies differs from the North American stilt by having more black on its face and neck, and longer bill, tarsus, and tail.

Lead Region:  Pacific Region (Region 1)
Date Listed: Oct 13, 1970

  • States/US Territories in which the Hawaiian stilt is known to occur:  Hawaii
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Hawaiian stilt is known to occur:  HANALEI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , HULEIA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , JAMES CAMPBELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , KAKAHAIA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , KEALIA POND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE  ... Show All Refuges
  • For more information:  http://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/wesa/aeo.html

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 7 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
07/08/2008 73 FR 39025 39026 Incidental Take Permit Application for Construction and Operation of Seven Meteorological Towers on Lanai, Hawaii
04/29/2008 73 FR 23264 23266 Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 70 Species in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and the Pacific Islands
12/29/2006 71 FR 78452 78454 Availability of a Proposed Safe Harbor Agreement for Five Species of Birds in Kauai, Maui, HI, and Honolulu Counties, HI
08/24/2005 70 FR 49668 49669 Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Waterbirds, Second Draft of Second Revision: Notice of document availability for review and comment.
08/24/2004 69 FR 52027 52028 Proposed Safe Harbor Agreement With Chevron Hawaii Refinery at James Campbell Industrial Park for Management of the Hawaiian Stilt and Hawaiian Coot, Oahu, HI

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
08/24/2005 Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Waterbirds, Second Draft of Second Revision View Implementation Progress Draft Revision 2
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 2 of 2 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
04/29/2008 73 FR 23264 23266 Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 70 Species in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and the Pacific Islands
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
  • 08/24/2005 70 FR 49668 49669 Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Waterbirds, Second Draft of Second Revision: Notice of document availability for review and comment.
  • Notice Draft Recovery Plan Availability
  • » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Hawaiian stilt.

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 2 of 2 )
    HCP Plan Summaries
    Cyanotech
    Lanai Meteorological Towers
    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA): (learn more) (Showing 2 of 2 )
    SHA Plan Summaries
    Chevron SHA
    Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement Covering Hawaiian Goose, Duck, Moorhen, Coot, and Stilt for Participants of USDA Farm Bill Conservation Programs

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the Hawaiian stilt.

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 22, 2009