The black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) is a locally abundant shorebird of North to South American wetlands and coastlines. It has a continuous area of black extending from the back along the hindneck to the head. There, it forms a cap covering the entire head from the top to just below eye-level, with the exception of the areas surrounding the bill and a small white spot above the eye. Ranging from Florida to Brazil, the black-necked stilt uses its long, thin bill to probe for insects. The black-necked stilt is distinguished from non-breeding vagrants of the Old World black-winged stilt by the white spot above the eye.(See black winged stilt).