Black-necked Stilt

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Types of Shorebirds American Avocet Black Oyster Catcher Black Turnstone Dunlin Greater Yellowlegs Killdeer Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Dowitcher Least Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Marbled Godwit Pectoral Sandpiper Red-necked Phalarope Sanderling Semipalmated Plover Spotted Sandpiper Surfbird Western Sandpiper Willet Wilson's Phalarope

The Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) is a medium sized and long legged shorebird that breeds in fresh and salt water locations along the West Coast, Gulf Coast and South Atlantic Coast.

Their long red legs and black and white bodies make easy to identify in the field.

They are fairly social birds and will nest in small colonies, with nests built on the ground. Both parents care for the young, and both are fairly defensive when intruders invade their nesting territory.

Like many shorebirds, black-necked stilts are opportunistic feeders, eating a variety of insects and aquatic organisms in their territory.

Because they are relatively adaptable in habitat and dietary preferences, their population levels have not dropped dramatically, despite the loss of many of their wetlands breeding grounds.

© 2004 Patricia A. Michaels