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Pied Advocet

Recurvirostra avosetta

Photo by Jared Hersch
Published on Project Noah
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-34.0628, 23.0669

Field Notes

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 inches (42–45.1 cm) in length of which the bill is approximately 2.95–3.35 inches (7.5–8.5 cm) and the legs are approximately 3–4 inches (7.6–10 cm). Its wing-span is approximately 30–31.5 inches (76–80 cm).[4] Males and females look alike. The juvenile resembles the adult but with more greyish and sepia tones.

Habitat:

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.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)

Hi Jared, I think we have several similar initiatives here but they will be UK based or England only so there would be no reason for you to know of them but you're right it would be nice to have more :)
Thanks Debbie for that info, very interesting about the RSPB, we should have more of these type of initiatives! Thanks Sachin for your comment also!
Thanks for the extra info Jared, it is actually a very well recognised bird here in the UK as it is the emblem of the RSPB (Royal society for protection of birds) as it was their first and most successful conservation project very mpuch like the WWF panda! Such a great capture they would love this photo!
Thanks Debbie, Pied avocets feed by dipping their bill in water, and then sweeping it from side to side. The tip of the bill is highly sensitive to touch, so the bird can catch food even in the turbid water of estuaries and lagoons.
Love this photo Jared...really shows off its very unusual bill!

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