Black-necked Stilt

I photographed these Black-necked Stilts at the Andree Clark Bird Refuge on the south side of Santa Barbara, California last November. I have seen many in my past visits to the US, but never got close enough for decent shots.  The American Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus, used to be treated as a race of Black-winged Stilt but is now usually regarded as a separate species. They are so similar to European Black-winged Stilts?

 

Black-necked Stilts, Santa Barbara, California John N Murphy