Black-winged Stilt, himantopus himantopus,
Length 33-36cm (13-14 inches) Wingspan 70cm (28 inches) weight 250-300g (9-11oz)
Lifespan up to 10 years, Social…flocks. Status Secure.
Occurrence. In Spain, Portugal, Mediterranean region, up to West and North of France. Very rare vagrant farther north. Prefers shallow reedy pools, flooded fields, rice paddies, salt pans and shallows of salt lakes.
Nesting sites. Shallow hollow in mud or sand, often prefers small Islands in shallow water, lined with grass and leaves. 3-4 eggs 1 brood; April-June.
Voice... Noisy, especially in the summer months, with loud echoes of kyik kyik kyik or kreek kreek; quite in the winter months.
Flight… Strong, quick and direct with long legs trailed and very often crossed in flight, pointed wings flicked in quite shallow beats; glides in wind.
Feeding… Insects from the surface of water, wet mud, and plant stems. Often wading out into deeper water.
A handsome and elegant bird with very long legs, allowing this bird to have the advantage of wading in deeper waters.
In some of the images below you will see the juvenile which has a lighter wing plumage.