This bird walks on stilts and writes poetry in ripples.
The Black-winged Stilt is a vision of elegance in black, white, and endless legs. With slender pink legs so long they look almost comical, this wader strides gracefully through shallow waters across wetlands, lagoons, and salt pans from Europe and Africa to Asia and Australia.
Its body is a clean contrast of pure white and jet-black wings, while its fine, needle-like bill probes the water for insects, crustaceans, and small aquatic creatures. Every step sends delicate ripples across mirrored surfaces, as though the bird is sketching patterns in liquid silver.
Despite its fragile appearance, the Black-winged Stilt is bold and fiercely protective of its nest. During breeding season, it builds a shallow scrape on bare ground or a small mound above the water, where both parents share the duties of incubating eggs and guarding fluffy chicks.
When threatened, it gives sharp, piping calls and performs distraction displays, feigning injury to lure predators away from its young.
The Black-winged Stilt reminds us that grace doesn’t always mean fragility — sometimes, it stands tall, walks on impossible legs, and defends what matters with quiet courage.