Black-necked Stilts adapt well to their requisite man-made, shallow impoundments, and breed in both fresh and tidal wetlands. Nest scrapes are situated on islands, dikes, tussocks or elevated platforms close to water, and less frequently on mats of floating vegetation.
Their breeding displays and behaviors are some of the most sensitive and graceful of any bird group, as evidenced by their post-copulation strutting where the male wraps his bill around the female’s as they strut elegantly together while celebrating the special act that just occurred (see nearby photo). Their close relative American Avocet exhibits similar displays during breeding season.
Black-necked Stilts have a widely spaced and disjunctive breeding range in the United States and Mexico south to southern S. America, as well as the West Indies and Caribbean islands. Interior breeders in N. America are migratory, other than those in California, and many southern breeders move only short distances south for the winter in search of more productive feeding locations. California and Texas have a good number of year round resident populations, and migratory populations occur from Delaware south to Florida and upper Gulf Coast.
Due to their crisp, pied plumage; sensitive breeding displays; high-strung nature, and social proclivity, this species is one of Kevin’s favorite birds in the world.