# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 39 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Black-necked Stilt](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Black-necked-stilt-morro-creek_306.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mike Baird, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black-necked-stilt-morro-creek_306.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Recurvirostridae - **Genus:** Himantopus ## 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 - **Wading Whiz:** Black-necked Stilts have super long legs that help them wade into deeper water than other shorebirds to find yummy snacks. - **Probing Power:** Black-necked Stilts can swiftly sweep their sensitive bills through shallow water to catch tiny insects and crustaceans. - **Swim & Soar:** Black-necked Stilts can surprisingly swim well and fly swiftly, helping them escape predators or find new feeding grounds. - **Distraction Dance:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Raids nests for eggs and young chicks. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance so they feel safe and can fly away if they need to. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black-necked Stilt? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Black-necked Stilt? 33-40 cm ### What is Black-necked Stilt's wingspan? 67-76 cm ### How much does Black-necked Stilt weigh? 0.14-0.22 kg ### How long does Black-necked Stilt live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Black-necked Stilt move? 50 km/h ### What does Black-necked Stilt eat? These elegant birds sweep their long beaks through shallow water to catch tiny aquatic insects and small fish. ### Where is Black-necked Stilt usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Eden Landing Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eden-landing-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Gary City Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gary-city-center-historic-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District - [Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palo-alto-baylands-nature-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Pointe Mouillee State Game Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pointe-mouillee-state-game-area) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Professorville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/professorville) — California, US · Park - [Skylands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/skylands) — New Jersey, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Black-necked Stilt](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-necked-stilt) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Black-necked Stilt: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-necked-stilt)