Black-necked Stilt

Black-necked stilts are rarely seen in northern Illinois, and are supposed to live several states or more west. An exception is a family of stilts living by Illinois Rt. 47 in Sugar Grove. After flamingoes, they have the second longest legs in proportion to their bodies. Preferred habitat is shallow wetlands, and this stilt family is living in what local birders call a "fluddle", which I believe stands for farmland puddle.

The adult birds took turns feeding and came reasonably close to my location. Juvenile(s) stayed under cover of grass and soybean plants on the far west side of the fluddle.