Black winged stilts are widely distributed long legged birds. They have few subspecies like Hawaiian, pied, white-ba
cked and black-necked; black-winged is very common to Indian subcontinent. They have the second-longest legs in proportion to their bodies of any bird, exceeded only by flamingos. Despite the fact that legs are somewhat unusually long (the reason they are named so) they have elegance in walking. While in shallow water they wader in an exceedingly graceful style by taking each foot above the surface with lots of assurance. Their legs may look very fragile but is quite strong so are the wings- they have swift flight while they keep the legs trailing behind (the circumspect gait of stilt was used by Victor Hugo as a simile in Les miserable). The pin shaped bill is well adapted to feed on insects and small crustaceans, sometimes even small fishes and tadpoles. The above painting of the Black winged Stilt is that by British ornithologist and artist Prideaux John Selby (1788-1867). Selby is best known for his Illustrations of British Ornithology (1821–1834), the first set of life-sized illustrations of British birds.
Stilts are found in marshy land or river beds, lakes or lagoon. They nest not very far from water. They are quite gregarious birds, too noisy sometimes and create great fuss if someone goes near their nest giving a harsh cry as they pass close overhead. Intimidation failing, they try to divert attention to themselves by doing a bit of acting by simulating injury, shamming broken legs or wings in a most realistic manner. I love this bird!!. I wrote these lines
Look I am hurt
see my broken wing
worst cannot even walk
come catch me.
Easy delicious meal
forget my nest
there is nothing there
come catch me.
See I am trying to escape but cant
so hurry
come catch me.
There you come
there you pounce.
Frrrr I fly off!!
Many countries have come out with stamp on this beautiful little bird. Here i post one from Tanzania. All the snaps of Black-winged Stilt was taken at Pushkar (Rajasthan).
cked and black-necked; black-winged is very common to Indian subcontinent. They have the second-longest legs in proportion to their bodies of any bird, exceeded only by flamingos. Despite the fact that legs are somewhat unusually long (the reason they are named so) they have elegance in walking. While in shallow water they wader in an exceedingly graceful style by taking each foot above the surface with lots of assurance. Their legs may look very fragile but is quite strong so are the wings- they have swift flight while they keep the legs trailing behind (the circumspect gait of stilt was used by Victor Hugo as a simile in Les miserable). The pin shaped bill is well adapted to feed on insects and small crustaceans, sometimes even small fishes and tadpoles. The above painting of the Black winged Stilt is that by British ornithologist and artist Prideaux John Selby (1788-1867). Selby is best known for his Illustrations of British Ornithology (1821–1834), the first set of life-sized illustrations of British birds.Stilts are found in marshy land or river beds, lakes or lagoon. They nest not very far from water. They are quite gregarious birds, too noisy sometimes and create great fuss if someone goes near their nest giving a harsh cry as they pass close overhead. Intimidation failing, they try to divert attention to themselves by doing a bit of acting by simulating injury, shamming broken legs or wings in a most realistic manner. I love this bird!!. I wrote these lines
Look I am hurt
see my broken wing
worst cannot even walk
come catch me.
Easy delicious meal
forget my nest
there is nothing there
come catch me.
See I am trying to escape but cant
so hurry
come catch me.
There you come
there you pounce.
Frrrr I fly off!!
Many countries have come out with stamp on this beautiful little bird. Here i post one from Tanzania. All the snaps of Black-winged Stilt was taken at Pushkar (Rajasthan).
