Himantopus mexicanus knudseni | Hawaiian black-necked stilt | aeʻo
Endemic
Other Names: kukuluaeʻo, aeo, ae'o, kukulueao, kukuluae'o
The aeʻo, or Hawaiian black-necked stilt, is easy to spot with their long pink legs, and black and white feather colors. Though endangered, they are often seen at their favorite ponds and mudflats feeding on fish, crabs, worms and aquatic insects. Though only 15 inches in length, they have the longest legs of any bird, relative to their size.
The map below shows birding trails where you might see this bird. Learn more by visiting our species profile page for aeʻo.
Hotspots for Hawaiian black-necked stilt
- Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge
- Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
- Salt Pond Beach Park | Details for Salt Pond Beach Park
- Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary | Details for Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
- Nuʻupia Ponds | Details for Nuʻupia Ponds
- Betty Bliss Memorial Overlook | Details for Betty Bliss Memorial Overlook
- Paikō Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary | Details for Paikō Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary
- James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge | Details for James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
- Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
- Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary | Details for Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary
- SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park | Details for SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
- Keāhole Point | Details for Keāhole Point
- Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park | Details for Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park
- Loko Waka Pond | Details for Loko Waka Pond
Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland
![Hanalei NWR_photo credit FWS](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Hanalei-NWR_photo-credit-FWS-300x180.webp)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Coastal
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Kilauea-Point-NWR_D-Peebles-300x180.webp)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Ranger Station Ranger Station](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/ranger-station.png)
Salt Pond Beach Park
Coastal
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Salt-Pond-Beach-Park-300x180.jpg)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Picnic area Picnic area](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/picnic.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
Wetland
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Kawaiele-State-Waterbird-Sanctuary_DLNR-300x180.png)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Nuʻupia Ponds
Wetland
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
Betty Bliss Memorial Overlook
Wetland
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
Paikō Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary
Wetland
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Paiko-Laggon-Sanctuary_KeriRouse-214x180.jpg)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Picnic area Picnic area](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/picnic.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland
![Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Kealia-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Picnic area Picnic area](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/picnic.png)
![Ranger Station Ranger Station](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/ranger-station.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary
Wetland
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
Coastal
![Waianapanapa State Park](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Waianapanapa-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Picnic area Picnic area](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/picnic.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Keāhole Point
Coastal
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Keahole-Point-300x180.jpg)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park
Wetland
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Kaloko-Honokohau-NHP-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Picnic area Picnic area](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/picnic.png)
![Ranger Station Ranger Station](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/ranger-station.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Loko Waka Pond
Wetland
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Lokowaka-300x180.jpg)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Picnic area Picnic area](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/picnic.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)