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THE BLACK-NECKED STILT
(Himatopus mexicanus)

This is a fairly common bird found in numerous ponds on Anguilla.  

Adult Male and Female
A closer look at the dark brown colour of the female's back.
Bird on Nest in Road Pond, Anguilla
A closer view of the nest and eggs
Nest and eggs in a second nest at Grey Pond, East End Anguilla. 
Stilts in small pond at Meads Bay after rainfall
Stilt feeding at Grey Pond in East End.
Stilt in step at West End Pond

Pictures here are available in print at a high resolution. 
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editor@anguillanews.com 


The Sexes - These male and female black-necked stilts(2nd photo from the top) were carefully guarding two young chicks stumbling nearby. Was it not for their defensive behaviour, the well camouflaged chicks would have been easily missed.

Adult Male:
The male black-necked stilt is seen in the photograph behind the female. 

Characteristics:

  • Black long slender bill
  • White spot above eye in dark cap
  • Black colouring on  cap, hindneck, nape, back, underwings and upperwings
  • White colouring on  forehead, lores (area between eye and bill), chin, throat, breast and belly
  • Pink long legs, crimson eyes and half webbed feet half web feet.

Adult female: The female is very similar in appearance to the male except that its back has a more brown-black hue

Nest: A shallow depression lined with grass or shell fragments. In other cases I've seen nests lined with pods usually used to lure doves into traps (Now probably illegal practice, since the dove is our national bird).

Both parents incubate their eggs for about 20-25 days. They are highly protective of their nests and young. 

Observed Behaviour: These birds were noisy and quite conspicuous on numerous ponds in Anguilla. They were particularly defensive in the nesting season. Their defensive behaviour usually started with a loud sharp alarm from one that developed into a chorus from a dozen or more. They sometimes flew low over head or even performed a dive-bomb like maneuver directly at me veering away just before impact. On the ground they extended their wings and shrieked as they made small movements towards me when I approached their nests.





Behaviour (chicks): The chicks blended well into their background and were difficult to see. They gently took steps at the edge of the water and upon hearing the chorus cries of the adults they laid flat to the surface of the water where they were.

These pictures were taken in May & June 2005 and are all available at a very high resolution by contacting editor@anguillanews.com.

Chicks Walking Chick walking  Dad defending
Loud Mom Chorus rising Baby lying flat