Stilts and Avocets

Stilts and Avocets are graceful birds with long legs, known for their striking black and white feathers and very thin legs. One of their most noticeable features is their special bills: stilts have straight, thin bills for picking food carefully, while avocets have bills that curve upwards and move side to side in shallow water when they feed. All these birds have partly webbed feet, which is unusual for shorebirds. They prefer shallow wetlands, coastal lagoons, and salt pans in both temperate and tropical areas around the world. Their feeding methods vary with the water depth. Stilts pick food from the surface, while avocets sweep their bills through shallow water to catch prey. These birds are very vocal and social, often nesting together in colonies in open wetland areas. Some species travel long distances between their breeding sites and winter homes.