Birds & Birding in Costa Rica: – Costa Rica’s national motto and tourism slogan, “La Pura Vida” loosely translates to Live Life or Enjoy Life. With over 900 bird species recorded in Costa Rica, there is certainly lots to enjoy! With 12 of the world’s 18 life zones, its diverse landscapes, including tropical rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, and savannas, provide habitat for a wide range of iconic birds A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
BLACK-NECKED STILT – (Species Account Blog #57)
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
TAXONOMIC TREE:
- ORDER: Charadriiformes,
- FAMILY: Recurvirostridae,
- BINOMIAL NAME: Himantopus mexicanus
The Black-necked Stilt is a study in contrasts. Its shiny black wings and back oppose the white breast, and both are accentuated by long, bright red legs. Undisturbed, stilts wade through shallow wetlands and flooded fields with a careful grace. When disturbed during the breeding season, however, all semblance of grace disappears. Agitated stilts yap incessantly, dive at predators, and feign mortal injuries. (from Birds of the World)
SIMILAR SPECIES
Black-necked Stilt is unique in appearance in North America and unlikely to be confused with any other species within its range.
DISTRIBUTION
PERSONAL OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
My personal “Lifer” Black-necked Stilt goes way back to my first birding field trip for my college Ornithology class to the San Luis NWR in Merced County in 1985. Outside of the US, I’ve seen them in Mexico (Cozumel Island) and in Belize, Guatemala and in Costa Rica along the Tárcoles River.
PHOTO GALLERY
**Some of these Photo Gallery images (all taken by me) have been taken in other nearby countries.
RECENT BLOG POSTS
View the five most recent Birds & Birding in Costa Rica series blog posts below.
- A Streak-headed Woodcreeper Feeds its Offspring Near the Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica
- PALE-BILLED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- SMOKY-BROWN WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- HOFFMANN’S WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
- BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER – Pura Vida Birds and Birding
Reflections of the Natural World 