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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Recurvirostridae
  4. ›
  5. Cladorhynchus
  6. ›
  7. Banded Stilt
Banded Stilt
Photo · (c) Andrew Allen, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Banded Stilt

Cladorhynchus leucocephalus(Vieillot, 1816)

Updated 21 March 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Endemic
Order
CHARADRIIFORMES
Family
Recurvirostridae
Genus
Cladorhynchus

At a glance

The Banded Stilt is a large bird, about 35–43 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
35–43 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Banded Stilt look like?

The Banded Stilt is a large bird, about 35–43 cm long and weighing 270–390 g.

The banded stilt is a nomadic wader of the stilt and avocet family, Recurvirostridae, native to Australia. It belongs to the monotypic genus Cladorhynchus. It gets its name from the red-brown breast band found on breeding adults, though this is mottled or entirely absent in non-breeding adults and juveniles. Its remaining plumage is pied and the eyes are dark brown. Nestling banded stilts have white down, unlike any other species of wader.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
35–43 cm
Weight
270–390 g
Wingspan
67 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Banded Stilt?

The Banded Stilt is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Banded Stilt eat?

The Banded Stilt feeds on fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Banded Stilt live in Australia?

The Banded Stilt is endemic to Australia, recorded across 53 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning south and central Australia.

BreedingSouth and central Australia

Non-breedingWidespread across southern Australia, focusing on coastal saltworks and estuaries.

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Passage

8 regions recorded