Stilt Stilt

Stilt - Definition

Stilts
image:Black-winged-Stilt-204.jpg
Black-winged Stilt
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Charadriiformes
Family†: Recurvirostridae
Genera

Himantopus
Cladorhynchus

† See also Avocet

The stilts are waders in the same bird family as the Avocets. They are found in brackish or saline wetlands in warm or hot climates.

They have extremely long legs, hence the group name, and long thin bills. They feed on aquatic insects and other small creatures.

They nest on the ground in loose colonies.

Species recognised in Handbook of Birds of the World are:

  • Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
  • Black Stilt Himantopus novaezelandiae
  • Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus

ITIS further recognises:

which others regard as races of H. himantopus, and also places Banded Stilt in Himantopus

See also

  • Stilts for the walking devices.

image:Black-winged-Stilt-388.jpg
Black-winged Stilt.

Copyright 2009 WordIQ.com - Privacy Policy  :: Terms of Use  :: Contact Us  :: About Us
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the this Wikipedia article.