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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

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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.

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PHOTO GALLERY

**Some of these Photo Gallery images (all taken by me) have been taken in other nearby countries.

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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