Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

The Black-necked Stilt is a tall, wading bird with long legs and a striking black neck. They love to stand in shallow waters and are known for their beautiful pink legs and black and white feathers.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Black-necked Stilt is an elegant bird with incredibly long, slender pink legs that make it stand tall. It has a striking black back, wings, and nape, contrasting sharply with its pure white belly and forehead. Its pencil-thin, straight black bill is also a distinguishing feature.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderCharadriiformesFamilyRecurvirostridaeGenusHimantopus

Black-necked Stilt

Interesting facts

Adult stilts sometimes bravely puncture predator eggs to protect their own nest and chicks!

Black-necked Stilt chicks can swim and find their own food just hours after hatching!

Imagine standing on stilts! These birds have super long legs for their size!

They often nest in huge, noisy groups, creating busy bird neighborhoods for their families!

Special abilities

Black-necked Stilts have super long legs that help them wade into deeper water than other shorebirds to find yummy snacks.

Black-necked Stilts can swiftly sweep their sensitive bills through shallow water to catch tiny insects and crustaceans.

Black-necked Stilts can surprisingly swim well and fly swiftly, helping them escape predators or find new feeding grounds.

Black-necked Stilts perform a "broken-wing" display that helps them lure predators away from their hidden nests and chicks.

Measurements & details

Length: 33-40 cm
Wingspan: 67-76 cm
Weight: 0.14-0.22 kg
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Top Speed: 50 km/h
Clutch Size: 3-5
Incubation: 22-26 days
Migration Distance: 2000 km

Diet & Feeding

These elegant birds sweep their long beaks through shallow water to catch tiny aquatic insects and small fish.

Primary Foods

Aquatic insects
Small crustaceans
Tiny fish
Tadpoles

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Raids nests for eggs and young chicks.

eaten by

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Hunts adult stilts at night.

eats

Mosquitofish

Gambusia affinis

Forages on these small fish.

eats

Bloodworm

Chironomus tentans

Feeds on larvae of aquatic midges.

Traits

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Piscivorous

Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.