The pied stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus) has black-and-white plumage and ultra-long, pink legs. It is found in wetlands, mudflats, and shallow estuaries in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Southeast Asia. Their bright pink legs are nearly twice the length of their bodies, letting them forage in deep water where other waders cannot reach. The sharp bend in the middle of its leg looks like a knee, but it is actually the bird's ankle. The genus name Himantopus comes from Greek words meaning "strap-foot" or "thong-foot" due to their thin, leather-strap-like limbs. In the New Zealand Māori language, the pied stilt is called poaka – a word it strangely shares with the domestic pig.
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