Black-winged Stilt

The Black-winged Stilt is a widely distributed very long-legged wader. They have long pink-red legs, a long thin black bill and are blackish above and white below with a white head and neck with a varying amount of black. Both in flight and at rest the long pink-red legs are characteristic and even if these are hidden in water of unknown depth, the pure white underparts and jet black upperparts are distinctive. 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.

The Black-winged Stilt can be found in central and southern Europe, central and southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Many birds migrate to south of the Sahara from August to November and return in March and April. However, many of those which breed in Iberia are now increasingly remaining throughout the year.

The Black-winged Stilt breeds around shallow wetlands, especially coastal lagoons, saltpans and estuaries. The nest site is a bare spot on the ground near water and birds often nest in small groups, sometimes with Avocets.

In Europe, the Black-winged Stilt is a regular spring overshoot vagrant north of its normal range, occasionally remaining to breed in northern European countries including the UK.

Date: 2nd May 2012

Location: Salinas de Bonanza near Jerez de la Frontera, Andalucia, Spain