The white-backed stilt forages by probing and gleaning primarily in mudflats and lakeshores, but also in very shallow waters near shores; it seeks out a range of aquatic invertebrates – mainly crustaceans and other arthropods, and mollusks – and small fish, tadpoles and very rarely plant seeds.

For feeding areas they prefer coastal estuaries, salt ponds, lakeshores, alkali flats and even flooded fields.

For roosting and resting needs, this bird selects alkali flats (even flooded ones), lake shores, and islands surrounded by shallow water.

This stilt chooses mudflats, desiccated lacustrine verges, and levees for nest locations, as long as the soil is friable.

The young are so precocial that they are seen swimming within two hours after hatching[4] and are also capable of rapid land velocity at that early time.