Stilt
- Stilt
:"For the journal of the Australasian Wader Studies Group, see Stilt"Taxobox
name = Stilts
image_width = 250px
image_caption = Black-necked Stilt
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Charadriiformes
familia = Recurvirostridae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Himantopus" "Cladorhynchus"
Stilts are waders in the same bird family as the avocets. They are found in brackish or saline wetlands in warm or hot climates.
They have extremely long legs, hence the group name, and long thin bills. Stilts typically feed on aquatic insects and other small creatures and nest on the ground surface in loose colonies.
The is some dispute about the taxonomy of the stilts. "Handbook of Birds of the World" recognises three species in two genera:
* Black-winged Stilt or White-backed Stilt, "Himantopus himantopus"
** Pied Stilt or White-headed Stilt, "Himantopus (himantopus) leucocephalus"
** Hawaiian Stilt or "aeʻo", "Himantopus (himantopus/mexicanus) knudseni"
** White-backed Stilt, "Himantopus (himantopus/mexicanus) melanurus"
** Black-necked Stilt, "Himantopus (himantopus/mexicanus) mexicanus"
* Black Stilt, "Himantopus novaezelandiae"
* Banded Stilt, "Cladorhynchus leucocephalus"
A fossil stilt has been described as "Himantopus olsoni", based on remains recovered in the Late Miocene Big Sandy Formation of Wickieup, USA.
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Stilt — Stilt, n. [OE. stilte; akin to Dan. stylte, Sw. stylta, LG. & D. stelt, OHG. stelza, G. stelze, and perh. to E. stout.] 1. A pole, or piece of wood, constructed with a step or loop to raise the foot above the ground in walking. It is sometimes… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
stilt — stilt; stilt·ed; stilt·ed·ness; stilt·er; stilt·ed·ly; … English syllables
stilt — [stilt] n. [ME stilte, prob. < MLowG or MDu stelte, akin to Ger stelze: for base see STILL1] 1. either of a pair of poles, each with a footrest somewhere along its length, used for walking with the feet above the ground, as by children at play … English World dictionary
stilt´ed|ly — stilt|ed «STIHL tihd», adjective. 1. stiffly dignified or formal: »stilted conversation. He has a stilted manner of speaking. There were letters of stilted penitence to his father, for some wrong doing (Elizabeth Gaskell). SYNONYM(S): pompous. 2 … Useful english dictionary
stilt|ed — «STIHL tihd», adjective. 1. stiffly dignified or formal: »stilted conversation. He has a stilted manner of speaking. There were letters of stilted penitence to his father, for some wrong doing (Elizabeth Gaskell). SYNONYM(S): pompous. 2.… … Useful english dictionary
Stilt — Stilt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stilted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Stilting}.] To raise on stilts, or as if on stilts. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
stilt — [stılt] n [C usually plural] [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: Probably from Low German] 1.) one of a set of poles that support a building above the ground or above water on stilts ▪ a house built on stilts 2.) one of two poles which you can stand on and … Dictionary of contemporary English
stilt — [ stılt ] noun count 1. ) one of two long narrow pieces of wood with places to put your feet on so that you can stand on them to walk high above the ground 2. ) one of a set of posts that a house is built on to raise it above the ground or above… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
stilt — early 14c., a crutch, from P.Gmc. *steltijon (Cf. M.L.G., M.Du. stelte stilt, O.H.G. stelza plow handle, crutch ), from PIE root *stel to put, stand (see STALL (Cf. stall) (n.1)). Application to wooden poles for walking across marshy ground, etc … Etymology dictionary
stilt — ► NOUN 1) either of a pair of upright poles with supports for the feet enabling the user to walk raised above the ground. 2) each of a set of posts or piles supporting a building. 3) a long billed wading bird with very long slender legs. ORIGIN… … English terms dictionary
stilt|er — «STIHL tuhr», noun. a person who walks on or as if on stilts … Useful english dictionary
