Photo: Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) is a member of the Recurvirostridae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 177 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Recurvirostridae Stilts, Avocets
- Genus Himantopus
- Species mexicanus
Where it lives
Coastal and inland western, southern, southeastern USA to southwestern Peru, Galápagos and northeastern Brazil; also Hawaiian Is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 177 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Recurvirostridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-necked Stilt hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Black-necked Stilt is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) is a member of the Recurvirostridae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean, North America and Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA, PO coastal and inland w, s, se USA to sw Peru, Galápagos and ne Brazil; also Hawaiian Is.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 177 g, with a wing length of about 22.4 cm and a tail of around 7.4 cm.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-necked Stilt?
The Black-necked Stilt is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 177 g.
Where does the Black-necked Stilt live?
The Black-necked Stilt is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering NA, MA, SA, PO coastal and inland w, s, se USA to sw Peru, Galápagos and ne Brazil; also Hawaiian Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Black-necked Stilt belong to?
The Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) belongs to the Recurvirostridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Black-necked Stilt eat?
The Black-necked Stilt hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Black-necked Stilt migrate?
The Black-necked Stilt is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
What sound does the Black-necked Stilt make?
1 real field recording of the Black-necked Stilt — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-necked Stilt's range?
The Black-necked Stilt has a mapped global range of about 9.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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