Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), male
Black-necked Stilt, Male

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

The Black-necked Stilt, Himantopus mexicanus, is a striking shorebird with a distinctive appearance. It possesses long, rosy pink legs and a slender black bill. The underparts are a pristine white, while the wings and back are cloaked in black. A black cap extends from the back of the neck over the head, stopping just below the eyes, save for a small white spot above the eye. Males may exhibit a greenish sheen on their back and wings during the breeding season, which is less pronounced or absent in females, who may instead show a brownish hue.

Identification Tips

Adult Black-necked Stilts have a wingspan ranging from 28.1 to 29.7 inches (71 to 75 cm) and weigh between 5.3 to 6.2 ounces (150 to 180 g). Their length spans approximately 13.8 to 15.3 inches (35 to 39 cm). Juveniles are marked by light olive brown plumage with black speckles along the upperparts and some dark barring on the flanks. The species can be differentiated from the similar Black-winged Stilt by the white spot above the eye.

Habitat

This bird favors estuarine, lacustrine, salt pond, and emergent wetland habitats. It is typically found at low elevations but has been observed up to 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) above sea level in Central America.

Distribution

The Black-necked Stilt is widespread, ranging from California's coastlines through the interior western United States, along the Gulf of Mexico to Florida, and further south through Central America and the Caribbean to Brazil, Peru, and the Galápagos Islands. An isolated population exists in Hawaii. Northern populations are migratory, wintering from the southern United States to southern Mexico, and occasionally as far south as Costa Rica.

Behaviour

These stilts exhibit fascinating behaviors, such as feigning weakness or illness to distract predators from their young. They are known to migrate in flocks and display strong territoriality around nesting sites.

Song & Calls

The calls of the Black-necked Stilt are a series of sharp, yipping sounds, often heard when the bird is agitated.

Breeding

Breeding occurs from late April through August, with nests typically located within a kilometer of feeding sites. The species is semicolonial, with nests found in close proximity to one another. Both sexes share incubation duties, which last for about a month. Chicks are precocial, swimming and moving rapidly soon after hatching, and fledge at around one month of age.

Similar Species

The Black-necked Stilt may be confused with the Black-winged Stilt, but can be distinguished by the white spot above the eye.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists mainly of aquatic invertebrates such as crustaceans, arthropods, mollusks, and occasionally small fish and plant seeds. They forage by probing and gleaning in mudflats, lakeshores, and shallow waters.

Conservation status

The Black-necked Stilt is classified as a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN, with a healthy and widespread population. However, the Hawaiian subspecies is rare, numbering less than 2,000 individuals and facing threats from introduced predators like the small Indian mongoose.

Black-necked Stilt Sounds



Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Black-necked Stilts on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Stilts, Avocets

A photo of a Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus)

Banded Stilt

Cladorhynchus leucocephalus
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
D3Nature
Great app for learning Birds
I’ve been using the app for a couple of months and love it....Someone said it’s like a real life Pokémon Go for birds. They’re not far off! It’s something that the family can do that gets you out and about. Well worth downloading no matter your age.
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
Madstherangers
A mordern game changer
Birda is an awesome app, its updated the world of birding to the modern day with a fun and easy to use app. It’s engaging and allows positive interaction with fellow bird lovers!
Safira V
Birding and wellbeing app
Birda is an excellent platform to share your love of Birding and is a great tool of encouragement for a Birding Beginner like me. Birda has a very kind and supportive community of Birding enthusiasts. For me BIRDA is not only a BIRDING but also a WELLBEING App.
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Talli A
My favourite app
As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.