Stilt
Stilt is a common name for several species of birds in the family Recurvirostridae, which also includes those known as avocets. Most sources recognize 6 species in 2 genera, with Himantopus being the more speciose genus, though the lone species of Cladorhynchus is also considered a stilt. Additionally, the white-backed and Hawaiian stilts are occasionally considered subspecies of the black-necked stilt.
Stilts 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. Stilts typically feed on aquatic insects and other small creatures and nest on the ground surface in loose colonies.
Taxonomy
The genus Himantopus was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760 with the black-winged stilt as the type species. The generic name Himantopus comes from the Ancient Greek meaning "strap-leg".Species
The genus Himantopus contains four species:- Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus
- Pied stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus
- Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
- * White-backed stilt, Himantopus mexicanus melanurus
- * Hawaiian stilt or aeʻo, Himantopus mexicanus knudseni
- Black stilt, Himantopus novaezelandiae
- Banded stilt, Cladorhynchus leucocephalus