Foraging black-necked stilts

By Aaron Horrell

The bird I have photographed here is a black-necked stilt. I found it and its mate foraging for food in a shallow flooded field April 26 at Duck Creek Conservation Area.

The black-necked stilt is not commonly seen in Southeast Missouri.

Its usual range is Mexico, Texas and lowland areas of the American West.

It has a 2-foot wingspan and a body length of about 14 inches.

Proportional to its body, this impressive shorebird has the longest legs of any bird except the gangly flamingo.

Like other shorebirds, the black-necked stilt wades shallow water in search of fare such as aquatic insects, small crayfish, tadpoles and minnows.

I watched this one thrust its head deep into the water as its tail pointed toward the sky.