Black-necked Stilt

Where’s Wildlife · Bird Field Guide

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

A slender wading bird whose extremely long legs stand out even at a distance.

Black-necked Stilt wading, showing black-and-white plumage and long pink legs.

Three Identification Clues

01 · FIELD MARK

Very long pink legs beneath a small, slender body.

02 · FIELD MARK

Black upperparts contrast sharply with white underparts.

03 · FIELD MARK

A long, straight black bill; legs extend well beyond the tail in flight.

Identification reference: Cornell Lab of Ornithology ↗

Field Photographs

Black-necked Stilt wading, showing black-and-white plumage and long pink legs.
Black-necked Stilt wading, showing black-and-white plumage and long pink legs.
Black-necked Stilt in profile in shallow water.
Black-necked Stilt in profile in shallow water.
Black-necked Stilt wading with its white underparts visible.
Black-necked Stilt wading with its white underparts visible.
Black-necked Stilt wading in shallow water.
Black-necked Stilt wading in shallow water.
Black-necked Stilt wading with its long pink legs visible.
Black-necked Stilt wading with its long pink legs visible.
Black-necked Stilt standing in wet grass.
Black-necked Stilt standing in wet grass.
Black-necked Stilt shown close up beside the water.
Black-necked Stilt shown close up beside the water.
Black-necked Stilt with another stilt in shallow water.
Black-necked Stilt with another stilt in shallow water.

Range & Sightings

Seasonal Range

Explore breeding, migration, and wintering areas.

View Range Map ↗

Recorded Observations

Explore sightings on iNaturalist. Observation records are not a complete range map.

iNaturalist observation map ↗

Keep Learning

Compare several photographs, then listen to recordings to connect appearance with voice.

Cornell · Identification ↗Cornell · Life history ↗Cornell · Songs and calls ↗