Stilt

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

The 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 recognised in Handbook of Birds of the World are:

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

ITIS further recognises:

• Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus
• White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus

which others regard as races of H. himantopus, and also places Banded Stilt in Himantopus