Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) is in the Stilts and Avocets family (Recurvirostridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 46,993 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Black-necked Stilt: observations by month (U.S.)
About Black-necked Stilt
The black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) is a locally abundant shorebird of American wetlands and coastlines. It is found from the coastal areas of California through much of the interior western United States and along the Gulf of Mexico as far east as Florida, then south through Central America and the Caribbean to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. The northernmost populations, particularly those from inland, are migratory, wintering from the extreme south of the United States to...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Black-necked Stilt by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 22,522 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Texas | 10,953 | April | Mar–May |
| Florida | 3,461 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Arizona | 1,662 | April | Nov–Sep |
| Utah | 1,086 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Louisiana | 749 | April | Mar–May |
| Oregon | 683 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Ohio | 636 | May | May–May |
| Delaware | 581 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Nevada | 449 | April | Apr–Sep |
| New Mexico | 369 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Washington | 353 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Idaho | 321 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Tennessee | 260 | May | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 250 | June | Apr–Jun |
| Maryland | 241 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Kansas | 231 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Colorado | 211 | April | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 208 | April | Apr–Sep |
| South Carolina | 177 | May | Mar–Jul |
| Montana | 145 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 144 | April | Apr–Jul |
| North Carolina | 141 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Mississippi | 133 | August | Jul–Nov |
| Georgia | 106 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Missouri | 99 | May | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 91 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Arkansas | 70 | August | Apr–Aug |
| Virginia | 69 | May | Apr–Aug |
| New Jersey | 59 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Alabama | 58 | May | Feb–Oct |
| Indiana | 56 | May | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 53 | June | May–Jun |
| South Dakota | 53 | May | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 48 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Minnesota | 43 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New York | 43 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Wyoming | 43 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Hawaii | 34 | March | Jan–Mar |
| North Dakota | 24 | June | May–Aug |
| Iowa | 20 | April | Apr–May |
| Maine | 16 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Connecticut | 13 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 12 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 12 | April | Apr–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Stilts and Avocets)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Black-necked Stilt?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is Black-necked Stilt most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Florida.