Black-Necked Stilt

With legs that are among the longest of any bird species proportional to its body size, the black-necked stilt is aptly named. While these stilts are occasionally lumped as a subspecies of the black-winged stilt, they are attractive wading birds familiar to many birders in North America, South America and the Caribbean.

Common Name:

Black-Necked Stilt, Marsh Poodle, Cap'n Lewis

Scientific Name:

Himantopus mexicanus

Scientific Family:

Recurvirostridae

Appearance:

Bill: Long, thin and needlelike, sharply pointed, very slightly upcurved at the tip
Size: 14-16 inches long with 26-inch wingspan, long thin legs, long neck, round head, short tail
Colors: Black, white, brown, red, pink, iridescent, buff
Markings: Dimorphic species. Males have countershaded plumage with black upperparts, though blue or green iridescence may show on the back in bright sunlight. The underparts are plain white, which a thin spur jutting up onto the shoulder. The primarily dark face shows a white patch above the eye. The rump and lower back are white, but this is typically only seen in flight. The legs are pink or red, with the brightest color showing during the breeding season. Females have similar markings and patterns, but are generally duller overall and may show a brownish wash on the back. Females have paler legs. Both genders have reddish-brown eyes.

Juveniles are similar to adults but are brownish above with buff edging on their dark upperparts. Their legs are grayish, and the base of the bill may be pale.

Foods:

Insects, crustaceans, fish (See: Carnivorous)

Habitat and Migration:

These distinct waders prefer shallow freshwater, brackish or alkaline habitats including open marshes, ponds, mudflats, flooded pastures and sewage treatment ponds. Areas with less vegetation are more appealing than dense habitats.

Black-necked stilts can be found year-round in central and southern Mexico as well as in appropriate habitats in California, along the Gulf Coast from Texas to central Louisiana and throughout the Caribbean. In South America, they inhabit similar habitats in eastern Brazil and the northern part of the continent throughout the year. During the summer breeding season, these wading birds extend their range further north to cover most of the western United States where suitable areas exist as well as appropriate habitats in Florida and along the Atlantic coast as far north as North and South Carolina. In winter, these birds can be found in Nicaragua and Costa Rica as well.

Vagrant sightings of black-necked stilts are most commonly recorded during spring migration, reaching much further north and east than expected.

Vocalizations:

These birds have a high-pitched "yip" or "yap" call note that is repeated in a fast, even sequence similar to a yapping dog, which gives them the nickname marsh poodle. In flight, a raspy croaking call can be heard.

Behavior:

These waders have delicate, dainty actions and step quickly through shallow water to pick at insects and other food, though they will plunge their full bills and even their heads into the water after choice morsels. They are most often found alone or in pairs or small flocks, but freely associate in mixed flocks with other wading birds. They may herd fish to shallower areas while feeding, and they rarely swim or dive unless extremely threatened. In flight, they keep a straight path and hold their long, spindly legs straight out behind their short tails.

Reproduction:

These are monogamous birds that breed in loosely colonial flocks, and several adults will join aggressive actions to repel intruders. Parent stilts will even attack strange chicks, and may perform dramatic broken leg displays to distract predators. Both parents work together to build the shallow scrape nest typically lined with weeds, grass, pebbles, bits of fish and other debris, though the amount of lining varies.

The eggs are pear-shaped and range from a pale yellow or buff shade to light olive gray, and are typically marked with brown or black splotches. Both parents share incubation duties for 23-25 days, and the precocial chicks are able to leave the nest within 2-3 hours after hatching. They feed themselves but are under parental guidance and care for 28-35 days until their first flight. There are 1-5 chicks in each brood, and only one brood is laid per year.

Rare records show black-necked stilts hybridizing with American avocets.

Attracting Black-Necked Stilts:

While these wading birds are not backyard visitors, they may investigate flooded farm fields or suitable ponds even in suburban areas, typically during migration. Controlling vegetation in marshes, particularly removing invasive plants, can also attract black-necked stilts to appropriate regions, and ensuring healthy water supplies for adequate food is essential.

Conservation:

While these waders are not threatened or endangered, they can be sensitive to habitat changes including flooding, pollution and fishing line tangles. Controlling water levels for optimum depths and avoiding pesticide runoff and other pollutants can help preserve populations of black-necked stilts.

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