The Black-winged Stilt is a black
and white shorebird, perched on very long and fine pink legs, giving the bird
an elegant gait. Himantopus h. himantopus lives in Eurasia,
India and Africa.
The Black-winged Stilt, Common Stilt, or Pied Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is
a widely distributed very long-legged wader in the avocet and stilt family
(Recurvirostridae). Opinions differ as to whether the birds treated under the
scientific name H. himantopus ought to be treated as a single species and if
not, how many species to recognize. Most sources today accept 2 to 4 species.
Adults are 33 to 36 cm long. They have long pink legs, a long thin black bill
and are blackish above and white below, with a white head and neck with a
varying amount of black. Males have a black back, often with greenish gloss.
Females' backs have a brown hue, contrasting with the black remiges. The
breeding habitat of all these stilts is marshes, shallow lakes and ponds. Some
populations are migratory and move to the ocean coasts in winter; those in
warmer regions are generally resident or short-range vagrants. In Europe,
the Black-winged Stilt is a regular spring overshoot vagrants north of its
normal range, occasionally remaining to breed in northern European countries.
These birds pick up their food from sand or water. They mainly eat insects and
crustaceans. The nest site is a bare spot on the ground near water. These birds
often nest in small groups, sometimes with Avocets.
Voice : The Black-winged Stilt's
calls are a sharp "kek" and a barking "ke-yak". Alarm call
is a monotonous, high-pitched "kik-kik-kik-kik-kik-kik". They are
noisy on their breeding areas.
Habitat : The Black-winged Stilt
lives mainly in freshwater and saltwater marshes and mudflats, shallow lakes,
coastal lagoons, flooded fields and rice fields.
Range : The Black-winged Stilt
has wide range. We can find it in Australia,
Central and South America, Africa,
Asia, parts of North America, Eurasia,
Hawaii and Philippines.
Behaviour : The Black-winged
Stilt feeds in shallow water, wading and catching preys on or near the surface.
But sometimes, it plunges the head under the surface to capture some aquatic
invertebrate. It picks up its food from sand or water. Its very long legs allow
it to walk in deeper water than other waders. This bird rarely swims for food.
The Black-winged Stilt is an active forager, and it can employ several methods
to catch prey. This species is well adapted to nocturnal vision, which allows
them to feed on windy, moonless nights. Stilts walk quickly, with long strides,
wading into water. The Black-winged Stilt is a migratory bird, moving to the
ocean coasts in winter. European birds winter in sub-Saharan Africa.
They are often seen in flocks of 10 to 20 birds, and also in mixed flocks with
other species of shorebirds. The Black-winged Stilt nests in small colonies of
2 to 50 pairs, and mated pairs defend vigorously their nest site and territory.
They may nest in mixed groups with avocets. They are gregarious and may feed in
large flocks of several thousands birds. When alarmed, the birds often bob
their head.
Flight : The Black-winged Stilt has rapid direct flight,
with steady wing-beats. Legs are projected behind the tail of up to 20 cm, and
neck is slightly held.
