Specie's Page                                               Black-winged Stilt - Small Waders

Black-winged Stilt:

UK Status: Resident in some breeding seasons since 1945.

Habitat: This bird is similar in it's habitats to other waders like the avocet, in that it like shallow lagoons and pools where it can feed in the mud with with it's long beak. They mainly feed on insects and crustaceans.

Breeding: This bird is starting to breed in Britain more frequently in recent years, probably due to global warming. Nests are made in about a two inch deep depression that they make on the ground, and is usually lined with straw other vegetation. Females lay two to five very ovular eggs in a clutch, and there is only on clutch laid per year. Eggs vary from olive green to brown, and are heavily marked with darker blotches, especially at the broader end. Eggs are very broad at one end, and taper fairly quickly to a narrow pointed end. This shape of egg is similar to a lot of seabirds, and have the benefit of not rolling out of the nest, but instead just turn in a circular motion because most of their weight is at one end.

Comment: Not a common bird in the British Isles, but may become commoner as temperatures increase with global warming. Also there are some centres breeding this bird in the UK for release into the wild.