TOTAL PAGEVIEWS

TRANSLATE

Sunday, 12 September 2021

12-9-2021 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - BLACK WINGED STILT (JUVENILE) (Himantopus himantopus)


Juvenile Black-winged Stilts are easily distinguished by their brownish-grey crowns, mottled upperparts with buffy feather fringes, and a more prominent grey wash. Unlike adults, they retain a brownish-grey mantle and hindneck. They typically share the species' needle-like black bill and remarkably long, slender pink legs.

Distinctive Juvenile Traits

Plumage: Juveniles look similar to adult females but have noticeably duller, browner, and more mottled feathers on their backs and wings, usually fringed with buff.

Head: They possess a brownish-grey crown and hindneck, as opposed to the clean, stark black-and-white patterns seen on breeding adults.

Legs: While adults boast bright coral-pink or reddish-pink legs, juveniles often start with slightly paler or duller pinkish legs.