BLACK-NECKED STILT Himantopus mexicanus
This beanpole has proportionately the longest legs of any species of bird on earth! They are common waders, forming large flocks of hundreds of individuals in winter. The Stilts are often the subject of taxonomic change, with the southern South American population frequently being treated as a separate species - the White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus. However as yet no conclusive study has confirmed the specific identity of this form and so for now we retain it as a subspecies of the widespread North American species Black-necked Stilt. To the Guaraní this species is known as the Tetéu Jagua - essentially translating as "Dog Lapwing" in reference to the alarm call of this species which resembles the yapping of a small dog.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPAVE1022PH) Adult frontal view, Bahía de Asunción, Departamento Central (Frank Fragano undated).
FIGURE 2 - (FPAVE1023PH) Adult dorsal view, Bahía de Asunción, Departamento Central (Frank Fragano undated).
FIGURE 3 - (FPAVE1024PH) Adults, Campo María Private Nature Reserve, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Clyde Morris October 2008).
FIGURE 4 - (FPAVE1025PH) Juvenile, Bahía de Asunción, Departamento Central (Frank Fragano undated).
FIGURE 5 - (FPAVE1026PH) Adults, Campo María Private Nature Reserve, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Hemme Batjes July 2006).
FIGURE 6 - (FPAVE1027PH) Flock loafing, Bahía de Asunción, Departamento Central (Frank Fragano undated).
VIDEO - (FPAVE1028VI) Adults, Laguna Capitán, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Paul Smith October 2010).
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Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Material on this page was provided by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Clyde Morris, Myriam Velázquez and Frank Fragano and is used with permission.
Himantopus mexicanus
1 (FPAVE1029RE) Flight call,  recorded Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).
2 (FPAVE1030RE) Calls, recorded Campo María Private Nature Reserve, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Myriam Velázquez May 2001).
3 (FPAVE1031RE) Calls, recorded Campo María Private Nature Reserve, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Myriam Velázquez May 2001).
Click the link to hear the call. Longer versions of this call can be downloaded from the Paraguay page of our partner website Xeno-Canto - the largest collection of freely downloadable Neotropical bird calls available online.