The Hawaiian Stilt (Himantopus knudseni) or the A'eo lives on the wetlands. The stilt is an endangered species and it is endemic to the Hawaiian chain. It is a tall, slender, wading bird with white on its face, neck, and stomach, and black on its head. The stilt has a long, black bill measuring approximately three inches. They can grow to be 16 inches in length. The males are black in color and the females are a brownish color.

The coot beek a sound that goes "peek-peek" like a baby chick.

Its distinctive feature is its long pinkish red legs that looks like it is walking on stilts because of its long legs. The stilt has a diet consisting of small fish, crabs, worms, other water insects, and water plants. They use their bills to find food and to crack the shell of a crab.

You can find the stilt in unique environments on all the islands except Lanai. It makes its nests in marshes and wetland areas. The stilt lays about 4 eggs and when they hatch, adults take very good care of them. Mongoose, cats, and dogs are threats to the stilts because the mongoose eat the eggs and the dogs and cats eat the birds.