Stilts

Black-winged Stilt
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Charadriiformes
Family†: Recurvirostridae
Genera
Himantopus
Cladorhynchus
† See also Avocet

The three species of stilts are waders in the same bird family as the Avocets. They are found in brackish or saline wetlands in warm or hot climates.

They have extremely long legs, hence the group name, and long thin bills. They feed on aquatic insects and other small creatures.

They nest on the ground in loose colonies.

Species are:

  • Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
  • Black Stilt Himantopus novaezelandiae
  • Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus


Black-winged Stilt.