Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
General data
Order:CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Genus: Himantopus
Scientific name: Himantopus himantopus
Common name: Black-winged Stilt
Description
- Geographic distribution:
S Europe, most of Africa, Madagascar, centre, W and S Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas, from S to USA to Patagonia. In Europe breeds regularly in Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Sardinia, Greece, Hungary, Turkey, S Russia and N Volga. Almost whole Spain except Galicia and the Atlantic coast, breeding in Balearic Is. and Canary Is. (Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote). In migration more extended even in the N coast of Spain. - Migration:
Resident with dispersal movements. The Nordic American birds migrate to South America in winter. The European population is mainly migratory and winters in N Africa. The New Zealand birds moves from S Island to N Island in winter. Some birds remain in S Spain in winter. One hundred birds wintering in the Balearic Is. - Habitat:
Breeds in a wide range of natural and artificial habitats on the coast or inland: fringes of marshes, riverbanks, salinas, agricultural and waterworks ponds and paddy fields always near the water. In migration and winter muddy shores, flooded plains, ditches, etc. - Description:
Length 33-36 cm (more 14-17 cm of the legs projection) Very distinctive black and white bird with slender fine black bill and very long pink-reddish legs. In flight the legs projects beyond the short tail. The underwing is black. Males have the mantle glossy black with some green hue whereas females have it blackish with brown hue. Immature have the tip of the secondaries whitish and the tip of the inner primaries white forming a narrow light edge on the wing.
Status
-
Ses Salines Nature Park:
[Em] Summer visitor > Moderate
[Mm] Migrant > Moderate
[He] Winter visitor > Scarce
-
Natura 2000 network :
[Ee] Summer visitor > Scarce
[Mm] Migrant > Moderate
-
Formentera rural:
[Ea] Summer visitor > Abundant
[Me] Migrant > Scarce
Category
-
Category UICN:
[NE] Not evaluated -
Red book:
[NA] Not threatened
Multimedia
Himantopus himantopus
