American Avocet

American Avocet, breeding plumage

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American Avocet, nonbreeding

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

With its elegant profile and striking coloration, the American Avocet is unique among North American birds. In summer it can be found in temporary and unpredictable wetlands across western North America where it swings its long upturned bill through the shallow water to catch small invertebrates.

Description

• Large shorebird. Long legs.
• Long, upturned bill.
• Black-and-white upperparts.
• Rusty or gray neck and head.

• Size: 43-47 cm (17-19 in)
• Wingspan: 72 cm (28 in)
• Weight: 275-350 g (9.71-12.36 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, but female slightly smaller, with shorter and more curved bill.

Sound

Call a repeated, high-pitched "kleek."

Conservation Status

Populations declined in the 1960s and 1970s, largely from the loss of wetlands from water diversion for human use. Contamination of wetland habitat with selenium caused increased developmental abnormalities and mortality. Since 1995, owners of selenium-contaminated sites in northern California have been required to provide safe wetland habitat for the species. Breeding success on the newly created sites has been much greater than initially expected, but long-term prospects for breeding at these sites are not clear.

Other Names

Avocette d'Amérique (French)
Avoceta Americana, Piqocurvo (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• In response to predators, the American Avocet sometimes issues a series of call notes that gradually changes pitch, simulating the Doppler effect and thus making its approach seem faster than it actually is.
• Nesting American Avocets aggressively attack predators, sometimes physically striking Northern Harriers or Common Ravens.

• A female American Avocet may lay one to four eggs in the nest of another female, who then incubates the eggs. American Avocets may parasitize other species' nests too; single American Avocet eggs have been found in the nests of Mew Gulls. Other species may also parasitize avocet nests. Avocets have incubated mixed clutches of their own eggs and those of Common Terns or Black-necked Stilts. The avocets reared the stilt hatchlings as if they were their own.

• American Avocet chicks leave the nest within 24 hours after hatching. Day-old avocets can walk, swim, and even dive to escape predators.

Sources used to construct this page:

Robinson, J. A., L. W. Oring, J. P. Skorupa, and R. Boettcher. 1997. American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana). In The Birds of North America, No. (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA., No. 275 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and the American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.