Himantopus mexicanus
The Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) is an elegant and instantly recognizable wader, averaging 33-40 cm (13-16 in) in length with an impressive 67-83 cm (26-33 in) wingspan and weighing 140-300g (4.9-10.6 oz). Its striking plumage consists of a glossy black back and wings contrasting sharply with a pure white underside, head, and neck, save for a distinct black cap and hindneck stripe. The most distinctive field marks are its extraordinarily long, slender, reddish-pink legs—the longe...
This species thrives in a variety of shallow aquatic environments, including freshwater and brackish marshes, lagoons, mudflats, salt ponds, and flooded fields, primarily at low elevations.
Primarily insectivorous, the Black-necked Stilt feeds on a wide range of aquatic invertebrates, including beetle larvae, brine flies, dragonflies, and small crustaceans, along with occasional small fish, tadpoles, and seeds, foraging by visual gleaning and probing in shallow water.
Black-necked Stilts are diurnal birds, actively foraging during the day and typically roosting communally in shallow water or on protected mudflats at night. Their foraging technique is distinctive: they "stilt-walk" through shallow water, visually snatching aquatic insects and small invertebrate...
The Black-necked Stilt boasts a broad distribution across the Americas, with its primary breeding range extending from the western and southern United States, through Mexico and Central America, and into the Caribbean and northern South America. In the US, it breeds commonly in California's Centr...
Least Concern
- The Black-necked Stilt possesses the longest legs in proportion to its body size of any bird in North America, allowing it to wade in deeper water than most other shorebirds. - Their scientific name, *Himantopus*, comes from Greek words meaning "strap-footed" or "thong-footed," a direct referen...