Black-necked stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
- Not on exhibit
- Animal type
- Birds
- Ecosystem
- Coastal wetlands, Beaches & dunes
- Relatives
- Avocets; Family: Recurvirostridae
- Diet
- Aquatic insects, fish
- Range
- Found across the western and southern United States southward through Central and South America, the Caribbean and Hawaii. Range varies by time of year.
- Size
- From 13 to 17 inches (33–43 cm)
Meet the black-necked stilt
The black-necked stilt is one of the characteristic birds of fresh or salty shallow sloughs and grassy marshes. A graceful bird with uncommonly long red legs, the black-necked stilt can swim (awkwardly) and dive if necessary. It prefers to run about and feed in shallow water.
Cool facts
- For the most part, this bird wades with careful grace through shallow wetlands and fields. But when agitated during breeding season it shrieks unceasingly, dives at predators and feigns broken wings.
- To cool their nests in hot weather, stilts use their belly feathers to carry water to the nests, sometimes making more than a hundred trips a day.
Up next in coastal wetlands
Animal
Fat innkeeper worm
Innkeeper worms build U-shaped burrows in the muddy sand, attracting a motley crew of guests to take up…
Keep exploring
Animal
Sea otter
Beyond their cute faces and fluffy fur, sea otters play an irreplaceable role in their coastal habitats.