Black-necked Stilts facing left ☺️

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I kept missing all of our local Black-necked Stilts this year, and recently realized to my surprise that I hadn’t posted about them at all since 2019!

We saw lots of the gregarious birds on our visit to Orlando Wetlands last month. They always make me smile, with their large bright red eyes and torpedo-shaped bodies – graceful yet slightly comical ☺️.

Unmistakable with their “long rose-pink legs, a long thin black bill, and elegant black-and-white plumage” (All About Birds), these delightful little shorebirds re-appear each spring to nest in our Florida wetlands and marshes.

“Black-necked Stilts are found in wetlands from North America and the Caribbean south to central Argentina” (American Bird Conservancy). Their nests are low depressions in muddy areas among clumps of sparse vegetation.

Didn’t see any babies this time, but check out my 2019 post to see a glimpse of Black-necked Stilts and their young: Black-necked Stilts: Very protective parents.

23 thoughts on “Black-necked Stilts facing left ☺️”

  2. A Tale of Avian Splendor 🦩

    In the realm of our avian fowl, Dwells a story I shall now prowl. A mother’s memoir, I hold in hand, To amuse and enthrall this wondrous land. 📖

    Amidst the birder’s expedition grand, 🌍 Lay a puzzling truth she did not understand. Black-necked Stilts, so dainty and bright, Escaped her gaze, much to her sheer delight! 😮

    Two years had passed since the tale was spun, With nary a mention of these birds in the sun. But fear not, dear reader, for it’s time to amend, And unveil the chronicles, which we now extend. 🌞

    Orlando Wetlands, where magic resides, 🏞️ Unveiled a scene that stretched far and wide. There, the gregarious ones took their stance, With red eyes aglow, a captivating dance. 👀

    Torpedo-shaped bodies, a spectacle to behold, Graced the wetlands, neither timid nor cold. ❄️ A paradox they presented, both sleek and bizarre, Their charm, a fusion of grace and slight memoir. 😅

    Unmistakable features, no soul could deny, With legs painted pink, reaching for the sky. 🌈 Long, thin bills, black as night, Their plumage a tapestry of black and white. 🎨

    From North America’s marshes, they take flight, Carrying their elegance, a beguiling sight. 🚀 Through the Caribbean and Argentina’s core, These stilts traverse, forevermore. 🌊

    Nests reside in muddy depressions so low, Embraced by sparse vegetation, a hidden glow. 🌿 Alas, no offspring were found this day, Yet the memories of 2019 could not sway. 🐣

    In that moment, the past was revisited, Black-necked Stilt parents, guardians committed. A glimpse of the young, as they held them tight, A testament to love, shining ever so bright. 💞

    So, dear reader, explore that old post, Where protective parents impressed the most. 👫 Let amusement wash over you like the tides, As Black-necked Stilts grace the wetlands’ sides. 🌊

    With words adorned, both humorous and rare, A whimsical journey, beyond compare. ✨ Emojis strewn upon this rhyming lawn, To captivate your mind, from dusk till dawn. 🌅🌙

    Let laughter ring, as knowledge is unveiled, In this highly amusing tale, well hailed. 🤣🎭 A tribute to Black-necked Stilts, so bold, Embodied in this tale, forever to behold. 🦩

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  6. A beautiful bird BJ, and one of my favorites for water reflective photography and their elegance. We call ours Black Winged Stilts, which look very similar. I love the way they sit on their eggs and how their long legs fold down.

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  7. We love these “ballerina birds”!

    Those thin legs don’t seem substantial enough to hold them up. Even when we know where their nesting sites are located, the mottled green and brown eggs blend in with the mud so well it’s easy to overlook them.

    Great photographs!

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