Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

35cm. Unique, unmistakeable wader, with slim tapered body balanced on preposterously long, slim pink legs. Head and body white, wings black, develops variable dusky crown and back of neck when breeding. Bill black, straight and shortish.

VOICE

Noisy when breeding, especialy if nest is threatened, gives volley of shrill barking calls.

HABITAT

Shallow marshy wetlands in southern Europe. Rare visitor to mainly southern Britain, occasionally breeds.

FOOD AND HABITS

Picks tiny insects, crustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates from on or in shallow water. Gregarious, nests in colonies in its usual breeding range, very aggressive to other birds that approach its nest.