Search for the lovely American avocet along coastlines, lakes, and ponds. Plus, learn about their unique technique when foraging for food.
American Avocet Identification
Identify these striking shorebirds with a quick look at their bill — a thin, long, upturned beak like a swipe of ink contrasts beautifully against the bird’s habitat and feathers. Adults in breeding plumage feature reddish-orange coloring on the head and neck, while juveniles and nonbreeding adults switch the ruddy colors for light gray.
The American avocet’s white breast makes its black-and-white wings stand out. In flight, the black stripes on its back become visible. Interestingly, females’ bills frequently feature a more pronounced curve than males’. Adults are about the size of a crow or mallard.
Learn why the American avocet is considered one of the most beautiful birds in America.
Range and Habitat
Keep an eye out for an American avocet in the West during breeding season, especially in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. In winter, birders can find them along the Gulf Coast. They have year-round habitat on parts of the California coast. Some birds migrate through the Midwest and the East, wintering along the Atlantic coast.
To locate an American avocet, search along beaches, lakes, and ponds. These birds tend to favor shallow waters and salty or alkaline — rather than freshwater — lakes. They tend to prefer open areas with minimal vegetation.
Diet: What Do American Avocets Eat?
American avocets dine on insects and other small prey that lives in or around water. Usually, this includes larvae, beetles, water fleas, brine shrimp, or small fish. They also occasionally eat seeds. To hunt, they peck or probe at the water or the wetland bottom. They also use a technique called “scything,” which involves swishing their bill in the water.
Nesting Habits
During courtship, watch for avocets engaging in posturing. Before breeding, the male dips his bill in water to to preen, then the pair intertwine their necks and cross their beaks.
These birds nest in colonies located on the ground. Typically, these colonies spring up on coastlines. Males and females choose the nest site together. A typical clutch size consists of three or four eggs, and only one brood is laid per season. The incubation period lasts from half a month to a month. Young leave the nest soon after hatching. Similarly to killdeer, American avocets employ a “broken-wing display” if a colony is approached by a perceived threat.
American Avocet Calls and Sounds
American avocets give a kleet or wheep call, usually only when encountering a disturbance. To hear the American avocet’s call, listen to the recording from Cornell’s Macaulay Library.
Bird sounds courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
READ ON: How to identify a solitary sandpiper
Sources
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, “American Avocet: Life History“
- National Audubon Society, “Field Guide: American Avocet“
