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 Guide to Birds of North America Black-necked Stilt Description
DescriptionBREEDING MALEThe Black-necked Stilt is a tall, graceful shorebird with very long, red legs, blackish upperparts, rear neck, and head, and white underparts, foreneck, and eye spot, and a very long bill. Males have greenish-black upperparts.
FemaleThe sexes are similar, though females have brownish-black upperparts.
Seasonal change in appearanceNone.JuvenileJuveniles have paler upperparts than adults.HabitatBlack-necked Stilts inhabit ponds, mudflats, and marshes.DietBlack-necked Stilts eat insects and small crustaceans.BehaviorBlack-necked Stilts forage by gleaning from the surface of the ground or water.RangeBlack-necked Stilts breed locally in parts of the western and southeastern U.S. They also breed and winter south of the U.S. The population appears to be stable or increasing.More information:Bent Life HistoryVisit the Bent Life History for extensive additional information on the Black-necked Stilt. Wing ShapeThe shape of a bird's wing is often an indication of its habits and behavior. Fast flying birds have long, pointed wings. Soaring birds have long, broad wings. Different songbirds will have a slightly different wing shape. Some species look so much alike (Empidonax flycatchers) that scientists sometimes use the length of specific feathers to confirm a species' identification. Wing images from the University of Puget Sound, Slater Museum of Natural History Fun FactsBlack-necked Stilts are often seen with American Avocets. Black-necked Stilts often nest in loose colonies. VocalizationsVocalizations consist of a single-note "peek," often repeated.Similar Species
Nesting
The Black-necked Stilt's nest consists of a scrape on the ground, or sometimes a mound of vegetation.
EggsNumber: Usually lay 4. Color: Buffy in color with darker markings. Professor Bird |
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