In 1779, Gilbert White of Selbourne recorded five Stilts at Frencham Ponds, Surrey, and was incredulous at the caricature-like length of their legs. Gould had the same feelings of delight and surprise when he saw a flock of a similar species in the Australian wilds - 'which, after running gracefully along the margin of the river Mokai, suddenly rose, turned, and flew back by me with their long red legs streaming out behind.'

The illustration shows a male (foreground) with female and young.

DISTRIBUTION: Breeds southern Eurasia, Africa, Australia and the Americas. European population winters mainly in Africa south of the Sahara. Vagrant to Britain, mainly spring and autumn, and more records recently; has twice bred successfully, in 1945 and 1987