Pied avocet

Pied avocet
File:Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta.jpg
File:Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) (W1CDR0001419 BD20).ogg Bird recorded in Suffolk England
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	Recurvirostridae
Genus:	Recurvirostra
Species:	R. avosetta
Binomial name
Recurvirostra avosetta Linnaeus, 1758

The pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) is a large black and white wader in the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae. They breed in temperate Europe and western and Central Asia. It is a migratory species and most winter in Africa or southern Asia. Some remain to winter in the mildest parts of their range, for example in southern Spain and southern England.

This species gets its English and scientific names from the Venetian name avosetta. It appeared first in Aldrovandi's Ornithologia (1603). While the name may refer to black and white outfits once worn by European advocates or lawyers, the actual etymology is unknown. Other common names include black-capped avocet, Eurasian avocet or just avocet.

The pied avocet is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Description

The pied avocet is a striking white wader with bold black markings. Adults have white plumage except for a black cap and black patches in the wings and on the back. They have long, upturned bills and long, bluish legs. It is approximately 16.5–17.75 in (41.9–45.1 cm) in length of which the bill is approximately 2.95–3.35 in (7.5–8.5 cm) and the legs are approximately 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm). Its wing-span is approximately 30–31.5 in (76–80 cm). Males and females look alike. The juvenile resembles the adult but with more greyish and sepia tones.

The call of the avocet is a far-carrying, liquid, melodious kluit kluit.

Behaviour

File:Pied Avocet chick.jpg

Pied avocet (juvenile) near Oosterend, Texel island, the Netherlands

These birds forage in shallow brackish water or on mud flats, often scything their bills from side to side in water (a feeding technique that is unique to the avocets). They mainly eat crustaceans and insects.

Their breeding habitat is shallow lakes with brackish water and exposed bare mud. They nest on open ground, often in small groups, sometimes with other waders. 3–5 eggs are laid in a lined scrape or on a mound of vegetation.

In Britain

The pied avocet was extinct as a breeding species in Great Britain by 1840. Its successful recolonisation at Minsmere, Suffolk, in 1947 led to its adoption as the logo of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Gallery

• Saebelschnaebler (Recurvirostra avosetta).jpg

  Adult feeding

• Recurvirostra avosetta-pjt2.jpg

  Adult in flight

• Säbelschnäbler Küken 0506111.jpg

  Avocet chick

• Recurvirostra avosetta MHNT.JPG

  Avocet egg

• Avocet from the Crossley ID Guide Britain and Ireland.jpg

  ID composite

• Pied Avocet.ogv

  Video showing bird seeking food

External links

• (Pied) avocet species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
• Avocet images at ebepe.com
• Pied avocet videos, photos, and sounds at the Internet Bird Collection
• Avocet images at stevenround-birdphotography.com
• BirdLife species factsheet for Recurvirostra avosetta
• Pied avocet photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
• Interactive range map of Recurvirostra avosetta at IUCN Red List maps
• Audio recordings of Pied avocet on Xeno-canto.

• Recurvirostra avosetta on Avibase