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'''Disambiguation: The [[Australia|Australian]] species of [[White-headed Stilt]] (or Pied Stilt) is also known as Black-winged Stilt'''
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[[Image:Black-winged_Stilt.jpg|thumb|500px|right|"Sammy"<br />Photo by {{user|nigelblake|Nigel Blake}}<br />[[Titchwell Marsh|Titchwell]], [[Norfolk]], August 2004]]
;[[:Category:Himantopus|Himantopus]] himantopus
;[[:Category:Himantopus|Himantopus]] himantopus
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[[Image:Black-winged_Stilt.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Nigel Blake]]
==Identification==
==Identification==
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Breeds irregularly in scattered localities in the south of the region but an opportunistic species that occasionally breeds far out of normal range or abandons long-established areas for no apparent reason. In the south of the region may not breed at all in dry years. Most regular areas are [[Iberia]] and western and southern [[France]], [[Sardinia]], [[Sicily]] and [[Italy]], [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]], the [[Ukraine]] and southern [[Russia]], and in [[Mesopotamia]]. Also breeds on the Mediterranean coast of North [[Africa]], in parts of the [[Middle East]] and on the [[Cape Verde Islands]]. Has bred in [[Britain]], northern [[France]], [[Belgium]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Austria]], [[Germany]] and [[Poland]], also in the [[Canary Islands]].
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33-36 cm. Black above, white below, white head and neck, long pink legs, long thin black bill.<br />
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'''Male''' - black back with green gloss<br />
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'''Female''' - brown back. <br />
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'''Immature''' - grey, sandy wings.
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==Distribution==
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[[Europe]], Mediterranean and sub-Saharan [[Africa]] to Southeast [[Asia]] and [[Taiwan]].
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====European population====
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Breeds irregularly in scattered localities in southern [[Europe]] but an opportunistic species that occasionally breeds far out of normal range or abandons long-established areas for no apparent reason. May not breed at all in dry years. Most regular areas are Iberia and western and southern [[France]], [[Sardinia]], [[Sicily]] and [[Italy]], [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Romania]], [[Bulgaria]] and [[Turkey]], the [[Ukraine]] and southern [[Russia]], and in Mesopotamia. Also breeds on the Mediterranean coast of North [[Africa]], in parts of the [[Middle East]] and on the [[Cape Verde Islands]]. Has bred in [[Britain]], northern [[France]], [[Belgium]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Austria]], [[Germany]] and [[Poland]], also in the [[Canary Islands]].
Most birds are migratory especially in the north but frequently winters in southern Europe and occasionally further north, and regularly in North [[Africa]] and [[Iraq]].
Most birds are migratory especially in the north but frequently winters in southern Europe and occasionally further north, and regularly in North [[Africa]] and [[Iraq]].
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[[Image:Black-winged stilt 5.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|riccardo.rondinone|riccardo.rondinone}}<br />Stagni della Marza, [[Sicily]], August 2009]]
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=====Vagrancy in Europe=====
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Vagrant to most European countries north to [[Sweden]], [[Finland]] and [[Estonia]]. Also recorded on the [[Azores]], [[Madeira]] and [[Canary Islands]]. In [[Britain]] several are now recorded annually and breeding has been attempted at least six times. Most of the c.300 records have occurred in the south-east and in April-May and August-September.
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Vagrant to most European countries north to [[Sweden]], [[Finland]] and [[Estonia]], also recorded on the [[Azores]], [[Madeira]] and [[Canary Islands]]. In [[Britain]] several are now recorded annually and breeding has been attempted at least six times. Most of the c.300 records have occurred in the south-east and in April-May and August-September. A male at [[Titchwell|Titchwell Marsh]] in [[Norfolk]] was still present in October 2003 after becoming resident in the area in September 1993.
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A male (nicknamed "Sammy") at [[Titchwell Marsh|Titchwell]] in [[Norfolk]], [[England]], was still present in August 2004 after becoming resident in the area in September 1993.
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Accidental to the [[Aleutians]] in [[Alaska]].
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==Taxonomy==
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
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Habitat Areas of shallow water, fresh or brackish, with margins of sand or mud, but does not require vegetation to any extent. Usually on lagoons or in estuarine or delta areas. Often loosely colonial when breeding.
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[[White-headed Stilt]] (or Pied Stilt) of [[Australia]], has been split from this species<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>.
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==Habitat==
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==Sammy The Black-winged Stilt==
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Areas of shallow water, fresh or brackish, with margins of sand or mud, but does not require vegetation to any extent. Usually on lagoons or in estuarine or delta areas.
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This is a UK celebrity called Sammy he has been visiting Titchwell for numerous years. He is probably the most photographed bird in the UK.
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[[Image:Polojnik 8768.jpg|thumb|350px|right|<br />Photo by {{user|mikemik|mikemik}}<br />Seceoveljske soline, [[Slovenia]], June 2009]]
''[[Media:Himantopus himantopus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
''[[Media:Himantopus himantopus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thOct12}}#Avibase
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{{ref}}
==External Links==
==External Links==
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{{GSearch|Himantopus+himantopus}}
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{{GSearch|Himantopus_himantopus}}
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*[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=1193&Bird_Image_ID=400&Bird_Family_ID=131&PHPSESSID=5435992ec79acdf83133493608a4170dView View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages]
33-36 cm. Black above, white below, white head and neck, long pink legs, long thin black bill. Male - black back with green gloss Female - brown back. Immature - grey, sandy wings.
Most birds are migratory especially in the north but frequently winters in southern Europe and occasionally further north, and regularly in North Africa and Iraq.
Vagrant to most European countries north to Sweden, Finland and Estonia. Also recorded on the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands. In Britain several are now recorded annually and breeding has been attempted at least six times. Most of the c.300 records have occurred in the south-east and in April-May and August-September.
A male (nicknamed "Sammy") at Titchwell in Norfolk, England, was still present in August 2004 after becoming resident in the area in September 1993.
Areas of shallow water, fresh or brackish, with margins of sand or mud, but does not require vegetation to any extent. Usually on lagoons or in estuarine or delta areas.
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