Black-necked Stilt

Identification

The black-necked stilt is an elegant and distinctive shorebird measuring 13.8–15.3 inches long with a wingspan of 28.1–29.7 inches. Its most striking features are its remarkably long, thin pink legs and long, thin black bill. The plumage is crisp and contrasting: white underparts and tail, with black wings and back. A continuous band of black extends from the back along the hind neck to the head, forming a cap that covers the entire head from top to just below eye-level, except around the bill and a small white spot above the eye. Males display a greenish gloss to the back and wings during breeding season, while females show a browner tinge to these areas. The white spot above the eye is a key field mark distinguishing this species from vagrant black-winged stilts.

Range & Habitat

This locally abundant shorebird is found throughout North and South American wetlands and coastlines, ranging from coastal California through the interior western United States and along the Gulf of Mexico to Florida, then south through Central America and the Caribbean to Brazil, Peru, and the Galápagos Islands. An isolated population, the Hawaiian stilt, inhabits Hawaii. Northernmost populations are migratory, wintering from the southern United States to southern Mexico, rarely reaching Costa Rica.

Black-necked stilts favour shallow, saline wetlands including estuaries, salt ponds, and emergent wetlands. They are typically lowland birds but have been found up to 8,200 feet in Central America. In North America, they are locally abundant in the San Joaquin Valley and common to locally abundant in southern California from April to September. They also breed along lake shores in northeastern California and southeastern Oregon, and along the Colorado River. Salt evaporation ponds, particularly in southern San Francisco Bay, have become significant wintering habitat since 1960.

Behaviour & Diet

The source material provided does not include specific information about the black-necked stilt's behaviour and diet. For detailed accounts of feeding techniques, social behaviour, and dietary preferences, consult additional ornithological references.

Best Time & Places to See It

The black-necked stilt is common to locally abundant in southern California from April to September. The San Joaquin Valley is an excellent location where the species commonly winters. The Salton Sea hosts a resident year-round population. In Arizona, birds may be seen along artificially created lakes and drainage basins in the Phoenix metropolitan area, as well as in remnant riparian habitat. Salt ponds in southern San Francisco Bay are particularly productive wintering sites.

Photography Tips

The black-necked stilt's striking black-and-white plumage and impossibly long pink legs make it a visually rewarding subject. The contrast between its white underparts and black upperparts is best captured in good light, which will also reveal the greenish gloss on males during breeding season. The distinctive white spot above the eye is an important identifying feature worth capturing in close-ups. Shallow wetland habitats where these birds congregate offer excellent opportunities for photography, particularly during the April-to-September season in California when birds are most active and numerous.