Black-winged Stilt can be found both on the coast and inland on any wadeable pond, lake, marsh or stream. They have the longest legs in relation to their body of any bird in the world. Plumage is very variable and head markings can differ enormously, but they invariably have black wings - hence the name, not unsurprisingly.

In Da Nang, the migratory bird can be easily found on the waters at the foot of the Son Tra Peninsula, and it always brings an endless source of inspiration to both amateur and professional photographers.  

Our freelance photographer Nguyen Hong Huy has captured stunning photos of this bird.

Black-winged Stilts demonstrating their hunting prowess

The adults are 33-36 cm (13-14 inch) long. They have long pink legs, long thin black bills and are blackish above and white below, with a white head and neck with a varying amount of black.

The adult male in breeding plumage has black and white plumage with all-black wings and upper back with greenish iridescence. Meanwhile, the female in breeding plumage is almost similar but more brownish on the upperparts with sometimes greyish wash on nape and rear neck.

In immature birds, the markings that are black in adults are mostly grey. They may have some dark feathers on the white head.

With its thin, extra-long and coral-red legs and its needle-like thin bill, the Black-winged Stilt is an exceedingly elegant and graceful wader. In flight, it is characterized by its all-black, pointed wings, its long, extended neck and amazingly long legs.

 By NGUYEN HONG HUY - Translated by M.D