Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

adult

adult winter in flight European distribution adult

Identification

Both in flight and at rest the long red legs are characteristic, but even if these are hidden in water of unknown depth, the pure white underparts and jet-black upperparts are distinctive enough. The amount of dark feathering on the otherwise white head doesn't necessarily indicate the sex of a stilt although young birds always have smoky patterning on the head.

Habitat

Breeds around shallow wetlands, especially coastal lagoons, saltpans and estuaries.

Migration

Many birds migrate south of the Sahara in August-November, returning March-April. However, many of those which breed in Iberia are now increasingly remaining throughout the year. This has led to significant increases in the Portuguese wintering population.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Black-winged Stilt is classed as Rare: species currently considered for acceptance by the British Birds Rarities Committee (or forms of equivalent rarity).

S' Albufera NR, Mallorca, Spain 07/08/2010	Neusiedler See, Austria 15/06/2010	Lesbos, North Aegean, Greece 25/04/2008	Quinta do Lago, Algarve, Portugal 09/07/2010	Quinta do Lago, Algarve, Portugal 09/07/2010
Alicante, Spain 18/07/2010	Tavira, Algarve, Portugal 11/05/2010	Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk 06/06/2010	Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk 06/06/2010	S'albufera, Spain 06/05/2010

 View all pictures of Black-winged Stilt

This species has been reported in the following areas (Bird News Extra subscribers can click a county name for more details):

Black-winged Stilt breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canary Islands
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Turkey
Ukraine

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