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The
Sexes - These male and female black-necked stilts(2nd
photo from the top) were
carefully guarding two young chicks stumbling nearby. Was it not
for their defensive behaviour, the well camouflaged
chicks would have been easily missed.
Adult Male: The male black-necked stilt is seen in the
photograph behind the female.
Characteristics:
- Black long slender bill
- White spot above eye in dark
cap
- Black colouring on
cap, hindneck, nape, back, underwings and upperwings
- White colouring on
forehead, lores (area between eye and bill), chin, throat,
breast and belly
- Pink long legs, crimson eyes
and half webbed feet half web feet.
Adult
female: The female is very similar in appearance to the male
except that its back has a more brown-black
hue.
Nest:
A shallow depression lined with grass or shell fragments. In
other cases I've seen nests lined with pods usually used to lure doves into traps (Now
probably illegal practice, since the dove is our national bird).
Both
parents incubate their eggs for about 20-25 days. They are
highly protective of their nests and young.
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Observed
Behaviour: These birds were noisy and quite conspicuous on
numerous ponds in Anguilla. They were particularly defensive in
the nesting season. Their defensive behaviour usually started
with a loud sharp alarm from one that developed into a chorus
from a dozen or more. They sometimes flew low over head or even
performed a dive-bomb like maneuver directly at me veering away
just before impact. On the ground they extended their wings and shrieked
as they made small movements towards me when I approached their
nests.
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Behaviour (chicks): The chicks blended well into their
background and were difficult to see. They gently took steps at
the edge of the water and upon hearing the chorus cries of the
adults they laid flat to the surface of the water where they
were.
These pictures were
taken in May & June 2005 and are all available at a very
high resolution by contacting editor@anguillanews.com.
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| Chicks
Walking |
Chick
walking |
Dad
defending |
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| Loud
Mom |
Chorus
rising |
Baby
lying flat |
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