Population status

Black-necked Stilt
(Himantopus mexicanus)

Black-necked Stilts breed primarily in the United States and regions farther south. However, the breeding range has expanded northward in recent decades, with the first confirmed nests in Canada found near Edmonton, at Beaverhill Lake, in 1977 (Dekker et al. 1979). Breeding has since been confirmed in British Columbia (Tomlinson 2005, British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas 2011), Saskatchewan (Smith 1996), and Ontario (Peck et al. 2004; see also review in Gratto-Trevor 2002). This range expansion in Canada appears to represent new colonisation of areas, rather than a return to a former range, and indicates a large increase in the population in Canada since 1970. However, because there are no long-term surveys in Canada that reliably monitor the species, the reliability of this assessment is considered only medium. The population size in the United States has also exhibited large increases since about 1970, based on results from the Breeding Bird Survey.

 

Breeding Bird Survey in North America (BBS) - U.S. analyses

Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey in North America (BBS) - U.S. analyses

Table 1: Population trends by geographic area
Geographic areaTime PeriodAnnual trend Table 1 - footnote 1 Limits
LowerUpper
North America Select to view graph of the geographic area: North America 1966-2012; Breeding Bird Survey in North America (BBS) - U.S. analyses1966-20122.70.54.7
North America Select to view graph of the geographic area: North America 2002-2012; Breeding Bird Survey in North America (BBS) - U.S. analyses2002-20125.20.910
 

References

  • British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas. 2011. First British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas, 2007-2011 (preliminary results). British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas. 2011. First British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas, 2007-2011 (preliminary results). (Link)
  • Dekker, D., R. Lister, T.W. Thormin, D.V. Weseloh, and L.M. Weseloh. 1979. Black-necked Stilts nesting near Edmonton, Alberta. Canadian Field-Naturalist 93:68-69.
  • Gratto-Trevor, C.L. 2002. Bucking the trend: increasing numbers of Black-necked Stilts in Canada. North American Birds 56:246-250.
  • Peck, M.K., G. Coady, A.G. Carpentier and B.S. Cherriere. 2004. First breeding and nest record of Black-necked Stilt in Ontario. Ontario Birds 22:106-119.
  • Smith, A.R. 1996. Atlas of Saskatchewan Birds. Saskatchewan Natural History Society, Special Publications No. 22, Manley Callin Series No. 4. Regina, SK. 456 pp.
  • Tomlinson, R. 2005. Unsuccessful nesting attempt of Black-necked Stilt in British Coulmbia. Wildlife Afield 2:19.
  • Williams, M.L., R.L. Hothem and H.M. Ohlendorf. 1989. Recruitment failure in American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts nesting at Kesterson Reservoir, California, 1984-1985. Condor 91:797-802.