American Avocet
Recurvirostra americana
Bird
Order Recurvirostridae
Description
When bird is at rest the whiteness of the body contrasts with
the broad black stripes along the back and on the folded wings. In flight
entire outer half of wing is black and the white inner wing is crossed by
a broad black panel on the greater and median wing coverts. In breeding
plumage, the head and neck are a rich buff cinnamon. Juveniles in winter
plumage- head and neck are grayish-white. The shape of the clearly upturned
black bill is diagnostici degree of curvature is noticeably greater in females
than in males. The feet and long legs are gray-blue.
Range
Breeds on the coast of Califorinia, and in interior of western
states and provinces from central Saskatchewan east to western Minnesota
and south to northern Baja, Calorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas. Nonbreeding
birds are seen in summer from coastal New Jersey, south to S. Carolina.
Rare fall migrant along Atlantic Coast from Massachusetts south to New York.
Photo by Greg Neise |
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Ecology
- Habitat
- Can be seen foraging in saltwater, brackish and freshwater ponds and
marshes; this species particularly favors shallow alkaline lakes, wet meadows
and pastures with scattered open pools.
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- Niche
- Feeds on seeds, aquatic insects, and small crustaceans. Bird moves
briskly forward, turning its head rapidly from side to side and sweeping
its conspicuously recurved bill across the soft mud or muddy water some
may submerge their heads and necks as they enter deeper water, oftern with
the wings held high, across the stretches where their webbed toes can no
longer touch bottom.
Life History
This species rest near water, usually on small islands or on boggy shorelines
where access by predators is difficult. The nest is in a saucer shaped platforms.
The clutch size is normally 4 eggs. The eggs are pegged-top shaped, heavily
blotched with black and grey on ground colours of dull yellow and olive.
Incubation by both sexes andtakes between 22-26 days. Chicks are grey on
the back, and white below, with bold black mid dorsal lines or patches.
The chicks feed themselves and never by their parents. Parents with young
fly about calling loudly in alarm. Parents will preform injury-feigning
displays near eggs or young sometimes on shore or in water. Some Avocents
may form breeding colonies numbering scores of pairs when breeding is over
they gather in large flocks, sometimes of hundredsof birds. Birds are not
espercially vocal unless disturbed.
Special Adaptations
- Long slender bill
- Long legs to walk in varies depths of water.
- Special curved bill to sweep through water to catch its food in water.
- Color of bird helps it to camaflage into its surrounding.
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