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

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.   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.