Characteristics of a Avocet

1. The American avocet is a large shorebird. It is 16-20 inches tall and has very long, grayish-blue legs; a long neck; and a long, turned-up black bill. The female's bill turns up a little more than the male's bill. Its head and neck are rusty-red in the summer and grayish-white in the winter.

2. How to identify. Avocets are mainly white, with black patches on the back and wings, and a black cap stretching down the back of the neck. They have long, blue legs, but are most easily recognised by their long, black, upturned bills.

3. The long, bluish, or grayish legs are adapted for wading into the water. The webbed feet enable them to become proficient swimmers. And the long bill is a very well-adapted instrument for feeding. The feathers are a combination of black, white, red, and brown.

4. Pied avocets have come up with a trick to distract nest robbers. They act as if they were injured and try to attract the attention of the attacker. They croak and limp away from the nest. An injured bird is an easy prey, so the enemy attacks it first – and is regularly in for a shock.

5. The Avocet's beak is called a scything beak. It looks like a scythe, which is a long, upcurved knife or blade that is used to cut grass. A person holds the scythe while bending down and moving the scythe from side to side. The Avocet uses its beak like a scythe to forage for food when it wades in the water.

6. American avocets are tall birds that have long, thin, stilt-like legs. Their beaks are also long, thin and upturned. These long beaks are used to rummage around in the mud and sand for small crustaceans but also used to grab insects out of the air.

7. The mating behaviour of avocets is very elegant. Initially both birds can be seen preening vigorously, then the female lowers her head, stretches it low over the water and stands almost motionless.

8. Habitat. American Avocets forage in shallow fresh and saltwater wetlands, salt ponds, impoundments, and evaporation ponds. They nest in areas with little or no vegetation along dikes and islands.

9. Beaches, flats, shallow lakes, prairie ponds. Widespread on shallow waters and extensive mudflats, both along coast and in the interior. Typically in very open situations, with little vegetation. Inland, often favors salty or alkaline lakes more than fresh waters.

10. During the nesting period, avocets are aggressive toward intruders. They engage in distraction ploys one after another until they drive the interloper away.

11. avocet. noun. av·​o·​cet ˈav-ə-ˌset. : any of several rather large long-legged shorebirds with webbed feet and a slender bill that curves upward.

12. The American avocet measures 40–51 cm (16–20 in) in length, has a wingspan of 68–76 cm (27–30 in) and weighs 275–420 g (9.7–14.8 oz) The bill is black, pointed, and curved slightly upwards towards the tip. It is long, surpassing twice the length of the avocet's small, rounded head.











 

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