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A distinctive feature of the stilt birds are long pink legs. It is for him that this species can be easily distinguished from any other bird. Stilt - a relative of Avocet.
Appearance
The length of the body is about 40 cm. Almost the whole body of the bird is covered with white plumage. The wings are long. On the head there is a black spot that looks like a cap. In males, this “cap” has a darker shade than that of females. Wingspan is about 75 cm. In addition, females are smaller.
Externally, the bird is very similar to the representatives of the order of the ankle, in particular, the black and white stork. But in size, the stilt is several times smaller. If you translate the name of this bird from Spanish, it will sound like a “little stork”. The size is the same as that of the rock pigeon. The legs of the bird are twice as long as its torso.The long black beak reaches about 5 cm. The body weight may be about 175-200 g. The female has a dimmer color.
Habitat
As already mentioned, the presence of long legs is the main difference between stilts. This length of legs helps the bird to hiccup itself, as it spends most of its time in shallow water, where it looks out for prey.
This species lives on the Don, in Primorye, Transbaikalia. There are also on the African continent, Australia, some Asian countries, as well as on the island of Madagascar and in New Zealand. Stilt lives on rivers and lakes. Long legs allow the bird to move further from the shore.
Lifestyle
They live in colonies of about 20 to 100 birds each. The place they choose quiet, away from the coast with tides. Can settle also on artificial ponds. Seeing a person even from afar, they try to get out of sight as quickly as possible. Mostly move with slow steps, but sometimes they can run.Legs allow you to walk comfortably in shallow water. But when walking on the ground the bird has difficulty.
During the flight it flaps its wings very often. The legs in this case perform the function of the steering wheel.
Individuals that live in temperate climates are migratory. They return to normal nesting sites around April. Since they constantly walk along the shore, individuals leave characteristic traces by which one can understand the presence of a bird in this area. Traces they leave big. Paws have three fingers about 6 cm in length. The way of travel is unusual. The stilt takes a big step for its size - about 25 cm. The bird does not rely on the entire foot, but walks only on the toes, from which there are traces.
The voice is loud. Makes sounds that can be described as “kick-kick-kick.”
They have a daily lifestyle. Almost all the time is spent on the shore or in the vicinity of the reservoir. Stilters not only walk along the shore, but also swim and dive perfectly.
Nutrition
Stilts have a rather peculiar way of feeding. They are immersed in water with almost the whole body, only the tail remains on the surface.
With its beak, the bird is looking for food. They catch water bugs, bloodworms. In addition, they can eat tadpoles, beetles, vegetation. These birds could well find food on the surface of the earth, but their entire body is adapted specifically for hunting in shallow water. In addition, the presence of long legs makes hunting on land uncomfortable.
Long legs also allow the bird to get prey from a depth that is not available to other birds. A bird's beak is very similar to tweezers. It is as if created specifically to catch insects in the water.
Breeding
The bird chooses the nesting site so that nearby it is possible to get enough food for himself and the offspring. A colony is 100 pairs or more. For several seasons, the pair is saved, after which the bird can find a new partner.
Interestingly, courtship feels it. They choose the male by giving them attention. They hatch eggs together. When the female is sitting on eggs, the male carefully brings food for her. And when the chicks are born, the male brings food to them.
These birds are quite sociable, so rarely are left alone.During the nesting period, they form colonies of 20-30 pairs.
Alone couples practically do not nest. Such a phenomenon is extremely rare. Sometimes they adjoin colonies of other species, nesting nearby.
The nest is a hole that the birds line with branches, stalks and grass. If the first clutch was damaged, the pair will set aside one more. But despite this, this species has a rather low breeding success. It is 15-45%.
Couples are formed in April-May. In laying, there are usually about 4 eggs measuring 3-4 cm. In the second half of May, the stilt female lays eggs. The incubation period can last about a month. Parents protect their defenseless chicks from the threat. For the first few weeks, they actively feed offspring so that the chicks will grow and become overgrown with feathers.
At about the age of one month, they begin to get used to independent living and try to fly. Chicks learn to get food for themselves. At a young age, the plumage has a brown color, which eventually turns white.
Chicks develop quickly. Their plumage is somewhat lighter than that of adults. Sexual maturity is reached at the age of two.Total stilts live for about 12 years.
These birds take very good care of their offspring, protecting them from the threat. Sometimes they can endanger themselves in order to protect their chicks. If a predator or other threat approaches, the bird takes off and screams, trying to distract the enemy in this way.
For various reasons, a lot of stilt clutches die, which also affects the population size. Sometimes they become victims of hunters, but more often random. After all, very few people want to shoot at such an interesting bird. Moreover, she has very little meat.
Important! Today this species is protected by law, hunting is prohibited.
A person brings indirect harm to this species by using the coastal territory for its activities and making it unsuitable for birds. In tropical latitudes, this species is safe. On the territory of Spain and Italy, their number increases.
Interesting Facts
- Sometimes for the stilt take shiloklyuvku, which is an inhabitant of southern Europe. Outwardly, they are similar, but have a curved beak. Her legs are somewhat shorter, have a bluish tint. Her wings are black and white.
- Those individuals that live in countries with very hot climates should cool eggs. Therefore, before sitting on the nest, the bird wets its plumage.
- When the stilt incubates eggs, its legs are bent and are in the back.
- Despite the greater length of the legs compared to the body, this bird occupies only the second place in this indicator. In the first place is the flamingo.
Video: stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
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