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| − | [[Image:AmericanAvocet_mrcolin2u_SanElijoLagoon.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by {{user|mrcolin2u|mrcolin2u}}<br />San Elijo Lagoon, San Diego County, [[California]], [[USA]], April 2008]] | + | [[Image:AmericanAvocet_mrcolin2u_SanElijoLagoon.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Breeding plumage<br />Photo by {{user|mrcolin2u|mrcolin2u}}<br />San Elijo Lagoon, San Diego County, [[California]], [[USA]], April 2008]] |
;[[:Category:Recurvirostra|Recurvirostra]] americana | ;[[:Category:Recurvirostra|Recurvirostra]] americana | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Length | + | Length 41-51 cm, wingspan 80 cm, weight 300-460 g |
| − | *Large | + | *Large wader |
| − | *Slender, upturned bill | + | *Slender, upturned black bill |
| + | *Long, gray legs | ||
*Upperparts and wings patterned in black and white | *Upperparts and wings patterned in black and white | ||
*Underparts white | *Underparts white | ||
| − | *Head and neck rust-colored in summer, | + | *Head and neck rust-colored in summer, pale gray in winter |
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | Breeds from interior [[Washington]], [[Saskatchewan]], and [[Minnesota]] south to Central Mexico. Winters on West Coast of USA north to [[California]], on Gulf Coast, in [[Florida]], southern [[Mexico]], and [[Cuba]]. | + | [[Image:280771DN 3717.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Winter plumage<br />Photo by {{user|mw_aurora|mw_aurora}}<br />Rowley, [[Massachusetts]], November 2006]] |
| + | Breeds from interior [[Washington]], [[Saskatchewan]], and [[Minnesota]] south to Central Mexico. Winters on West Coast of USA north to [[California]], on Gulf Coast, in [[Florida]], southern [[Mexico]], and [[Cuba]]. Also breeds irregularly on the Atlantic Coast of USA. | ||
| − | + | Regular visitor on Atlantic Coast in winter and on passage (largest numbers at [[Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge]], [[North Carolina]], and [[Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge]], [[Delaware]]) and the Great Lakes on fall passage. | |
Irregular winter visitor to northern [[Central America]]. | Irregular winter visitor to northern [[Central America]]. | ||
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Click on photo for larger image | Click on photo for larger image | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
| − | |||
Image:American_Avocet.jpg|Photo by {{user|Ron+Conley|Ron Conley}}<br />[[Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve]], Huntington Beach, [[California]], [[USA]], February 2005 | Image:American_Avocet.jpg|Photo by {{user|Ron+Conley|Ron Conley}}<br />[[Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve]], Huntington Beach, [[California]], [[USA]], February 2005 | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Revision as of 09:49, 14 June 2015
- Recurvirostra americana
Identification
Length 41-51 cm, wingspan 80 cm, weight 300-460 g
- Large wader
- Slender, upturned black bill
- Long, gray legs
- Upperparts and wings patterned in black and white
- Underparts white
- Head and neck rust-colored in summer, pale gray in winter
Distribution
Breeds from interior Washington, Saskatchewan, and Minnesota south to Central Mexico. Winters on West Coast of USA north to California, on Gulf Coast, in Florida, southern Mexico, and Cuba. Also breeds irregularly on the Atlantic Coast of USA.
Regular visitor on Atlantic Coast in winter and on passage (largest numbers at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina, and Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware) and the Great Lakes on fall passage.
Irregular winter visitor to northern Central America.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Freshwater marshes and shallow marshy lakes; breeds locally in salt or brackish marshes. Many move to the coasts in winter.
Behavior
Diet
Their diet consists mostly of aquatic invertebrates, insects, larvae, molluscs and crustaceans etc.
Breeding
The clutch consists of 4 olive-buff eggs, spotted with brown and black, in a shallow depression sparsely lined with grass on a beach or mudflat.
The often nest in loose colonies.
Vocalization
A loud repeated wheep.
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
Photo by Ron Conley
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, California, USA, February 2005
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) American Avocet. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/American_Avocet
