Wildlife – Birds. Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) occurs in hot and tropical climate zones. They usually feed in freshwater areas, lake edges, sea shores, swamps, river beds and marshy ponds. It inhabits steppes, shallow still waters, sandy, muddy, open places, shallow lakes and rivers, rice fields, lagoons and marshes. They feed on insects, water grubs, small crustaceans, small fish and their eggs.