Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
Synopsis: Breeds locally amid rangelands east of the Cascades. Most notable are the records from the Columbia Basin (Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge), central Oregon, northwestern Lake, southern Harney, and all of Malheur County. At least one pair bred successfully in the central Willamette Valley (Rickreall area) in 2000 (Patrick Thompson, personal communication).

Habitat Associations:
strongest
Seasonally Wet Playa (67010 acres)
Edges of Freshwater Marsh (19121 acres)
strong
Lake/Pond Shoreline & Islands (259799 acres)
lesser
Salt Desert Scrub Shrubland (393381 acres)

Relative Detectability: Very easy to spot and to confirm breeding, as it noisily defends its nest area.

Challenge: Monitor possible expansion of its range during wet years.