Stilts and avocets · Shorebirds
Black-winged Stilt
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Himantopus himantopus
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Voice
Call
Alarm
Call
How to recognize it
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33–36 cm, jackdaw-sized
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Very long pink-red legs, slim black-and-white body
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White head and underparts, black back and wings
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Thin straight bill; call "kuyk-kuyk", alarm "krit-krit"
About the species
The Black-winged Stilt is easy to remember for its very long red legs and slender black bill. On open water it looks light and upright, with a shape that stands out even from a distance.
It moves confidently through shallow water, stepping where many other waders would not. Its call is sharp and ringing, and when disturbed it becomes even louder — often heard before the stilt is seen.
It uses open wetlands, lagoons, salt pans, and steppe pools, in fresh, brackish, or salty water. It feeds mainly on small insects and their larvae, and many populations leave for Africa, the Middle East, and Asia in winter.
Where to find
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Along shallow pond edges, canal margins, and quiet backwaters — it wades right at the waterline and pauses with its head held high.
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On salty puddles, mudflats, and other bare shallows — look for long strides in the water and sharp calling.
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By reed-fringed banks and still inlets — easiest to notice while feeding at the edge of the reeds.
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After rain on open vacant lots or flooded patches — it may pick up tiny prey with quick, deliberate steps.
