Species guide
Black-necked Stilt: how to recognise it
A bird seen on most continents. Learn the marks that make it easy to identify, then practise with real photographs in Lore.
Practise with real photosAll species guides
Photo © JuanFelipeRR · CC BY-NC · iNaturalist · all photo credits
- Scientific name
- Himantopus mexicanus
- Family
- Stilts and Avocets
- Size
- About 34–39 cm
- Habitat
- Shallow wetlands, ponds and mudflats
- Found in
- Europe, North America, South America and Oceania
The key marks
A black-and-white wader with extremely long pink legs and a thin black bill.
Voice
A sharp, repeated “kyip”.
Good to know
Its legs are very long compared to its body, so it wades deeper than most shorebirds.
Where and when
You can expect to find it in shallow wetlands, ponds and mudflats. It is especially common in Mexico. Distribution changes with the seasons and from year to year, so check a recent local observation source before you go looking.