Black-necked Stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
Black-necked Stilt, male, 8/19/07, Edwards NWR, Alviso
Black-necked Stilt, female, 10/22/06, Edwards NWR, Alviso
Black-necked Stilt, male, 7/10/04, Palo Alto Baylands Park
I always doubt whether these birds are really found in nature rather than a toy store. Aren't those implausible legs clearly made of plastic?

Males have black backs, while females show some brown.
Black-necked Stilt, female, 3/9/07, Palo Alto Baylands
Black-necked Stilt, female, 7/16/06, Edwards NWR, Alviso
Black-necked Stilt, female, 7/16/06, Edwards NWR, Alviso
Black-necked Stilt, 5/28/07, Edwards NWR, Alviso
Black-necked Stilt, juvenile, 8/19/07, Edwards NWR, Alviso
The next four birds shown are juveniles with adult feathering mostly established. The two in the four pictures at the bottom are younger, still with a lot of down.
Black-necked Stilt, juvenile, 8/5/07, Redwood Shores, San Mateo Co
Black-necked Stilt, juvenile, 7/16/06, Edwards NWR, Alviso
Black-necked Stilt, juvenile, 8/4/05, Edwards NWR, Alviso
Black-necked Stilt, chick, 7/10/04, Palo Alto Baylands Park
The one on the left has down on the breast and belly, but mostly adult feathering on the upperparts. Be sure to check out the still-younger almost all-downy bird in the three-picture pratfall sequence below.
Black-necked Stilt, juvenile, 6/1/08, Edwards NWR, Alviso
Black-necked Stilt, juvenile, 6/1/08, Edwards NWR, Alviso
Black-necked Stilt, juvenile, 6/1/08, Edwards NWR, Alviso