The American avocet, with its curved bill and graceful body, is an unmistakable wading shorebird. The tallest avocet in the world, this species is also the only avocet with distinctly different breeding and winter plumages.

Common Name:

American Avocet

Scientific Name:

Recurvirostra americana

Appearance:

• Bill: Long, thin, distinct upcurve
• Size: 18-20 inches long with 28-36-inch wingspan, long legs
• Colors: Cinnamon, black, white, blue-gray, gray

• Markings: Genders are similar with a cinnamon head, neck and upper breast. The back and wings have a bold black and white pattern, while the abdomen and underparts are white. Legs are blue-gray. The bills of female birds are more strongly curved. During the winter, the birds have a similar plumage pattern but in gray, black and white without the cinnamon coloration.

Foods:

Insects, shrimp, crustaceans

Habitat and Migration:

American avocets prefer open water and marshy summer habitats such as lakes and ponds throughout the central plains of the United States, including the Rocky Mountain region and southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. During the winter, these birds migrate to saltwater or brackish areas of the central and southern California coast, Baja California and the southeastern Atlantic coast as well as throughout Mexico and the Caribbean. Year round populations can be found along the Texas coast and the southern California coast.

Vocalizations:

American avocets have a high, piercing “keeek-keeek-keeek” alarm call that is repeated for several syllables.

A similar but less urgent, slower call is used in flight.

Behavior:

These birds forage while wading in shallow water by sweeping their curved bills back and forth along the surface of the water, or they can use their bills to probe into mud for insects or crustaceans. They may feed in flocks, and may dabble for food in deeper water. When threatened, American avocets can be aggressive and will coordinate aerial mobbing attacks of intruders, particularly near nesting areas.

Reproduction:

American avocets are monogamous birds that find mates through elaborate courtship behavior including preening and splashing displays. After copulation, the pair will twine their necks together. A mated pair will raise one brood of 3-4 eggs during the nesting season, and both parents will take turns incubating the eggs for 23-29 days. The precocial young can leave the nest quickly after hatching, but both parents will tend the chicks for 28-35 days until they are ready for their first flight.

Attracting American Avocets:

These are not backyard birds but birders can help attract them to the appropriate regional habitat by raising awareness about the birds’ needs. Invasive plants must be controlled around marshes, lakes and ponds, and pollution levels, especially selenium, should be monitored so they do not become hazardous. Spraying for insects should be avoided since it would remove a vital source of food for American avocets.

Similar Birds:

• Black-Necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
• Red-Necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae)
• Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)

Photo – American Avocet – Breeding Plumage © Ingrid Taylar
Photo – American Avocet – Winter Plumage © Ingrid Taylar