A blackbird with long skinny legs is likely not a true blackbird at all, but rather a wading bird that resembles a blackbird in coloration. True blackbirds, such as the common blackbird and Brewer’s blackbird, are songbirds with short legs suited for perching rather than wading. However, there are several black-plumaged wading birds with long, skinny legs that could be mistaken for blackbirds at first glance.
Wading Birds That Resemble Blackbirds
Here are some of the most likely candidates for a black wading bird with long legs:
- Black-necked Stilt – A very long-legged shorebird with black and white plumage. It has very thin, pink legs that can reach up to 9 inches long.
- Black-crowned Night Heron – A stocky heron with black plumage on its back and crown. It has yellow legs that reach 6-10 inches long.
- Yellow-crowned Night Heron – A heron with a black body and contrasting white face. It has yellowish legs that reach up to 8 inches long.
- Glossy Ibis – An ibis with dark plumage that gleams purplish-green in bright light. It has greyish legs that reach up to 10 inches long.
Of these options, the Black-necked Stilt has the skinniest and longest legs of all. Its legs make up nearly 60% of its total standing height. The other waders have legs more in proportion to their bodies. So if you saw an extremely long-legged black wading bird, it was most likely a Black-necked Stilt.
Identifying Features of Black-necked Stilts
Here are some key features to look for to identify a Black-necked Stilt:
- Long pink legs – Their legs can reach 9 inches long, appearing exceptionally long compared to the body.
- Black and white plumage – The body feathers are mostly black, while the underside and face are white.
- Long thin black bill – The bill is all black and needle-like, adapted for probing.
- Wading behavior – They wade through shallow water looking for prey, sometimes immersing their whole head.
The combination of lanky pink legs and bold black-and-white plumage is distinctive for the Black-necked Stilt. The long pink legs also distinguish them from the black-colored blackbird species when seen up close.
Habitat and Range of Black-necked Stilts
Black-necked Stilts live predominantly in coastal areas and inland wetlands in western North America. Here are some details about their habitat range:
- Found along sea coasts from Washington to Mexico
- Nest in inland prairie ponds and wetlands
- Migrate south to Mexico for the winter
- Prefer shallow fresh or brackish water habitats
- Forage while wading in water up to 8 inches deep
In these wetland habitats, Black-necked Stilts forage for insects, fish, and aquatic invertebrates while wading through shallow waters. They use their slender legs to gently stir the water to flush out prey.
Black-necked Stilt Nesting and Breeding
One of the most interesting aspects of Black-necked Stilts is their nesting behavior. Here are some key facts about their breeding and nesting habits:
- Nest on the ground in shallow scrapes lined with vegetation
- Build nests close to water, even on floating vegetation mats
- Lay 3-6 eggs per clutch from April to June
- Both parents incubate eggs for around 25 days
- Precocial young leave nest within 1 day of hatching
Their ground nesting habits make the eggs and chicks vulnerable to flooding. The parents will sometimes carry the chicks under their wings to rescue them from high waters.
Nest Defense
Black-necked Stilts vigorously defend their nests and young. When a threat approaches, the parents may perform distraction displays, flying around while calling loudly. They may also attack intruders, jabbing at them with their bills or battering with their wings.
Status and Threats to Black-necked Stilts
Overall, Black-necked Stilt populations are stable and they are considered a species of Least Concern by conservation groups. However, in certain areas their habitats are threatened by factors like:
- Draining or pollution of wetlands
- Increased predation from expanding human development
- Flooding of nesting areas
Protecting coastal wetlands through pollution controls and limiting human disturbance near nesting sites will help ensure thriving Stilt populations into the future.
Conclusion
So in summary, a black colored wading bird with exceptionally long pink legs is most likely the distinctively leggy Black-necked Stilt. This elegant waterbird can be identified by its striking black and white plumage and its remarkably thin legs that allow it to nimbly wade through shallow wetland habitats. With proper protections in place for coastal nesting grounds, this uniquely adapted bird will continue its shoreline stilt-walking far into the future.