Avocets

Avocets are wading birds in the family Recurvirostridae, comprising the genus Recurvirostra. They are medium-sized shorebirds known for their long legs, slender necks, and a distinctive upturned bill, which they sweep from side to side through shallow water to locate prey. The three extant species commonly recognized are the pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), the American avocet (Recurvirostra americana), and the red-necked or Australian avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae).

The pied avocet has a predominantly white body with a black cap and contrasting black-and-white wings, and it ranges across Europe, parts of North Africa, and western Asia. The American avocet features a pale neck with a long upturned bill and dark wings in flight, and it inhabits wetlands across North America. The red-necked avocet, native to Australia, is typically white with dark wings and a strikingly colored neck during the breeding season. Avocets generally favor shallow, saline, or brackish wetlands for foraging and nesting.

Ecology and behavior follow a characteristic pattern: avocets feed by sweeping their upturned bills through the water to detect and probe for invertebrates such as crustaceans, insects, and mollusks. They are often social, forming flocks outside the breeding season. Breeding involves ground-nesting, cup-shaped nests near water, with both parents incubating the clutch and feeding the young after hatching.

Conservation status varies by region but is typically of least concern, though loss and degradation of wetland habitats can impact local populations. The name avocet derives from historical usage of avocette, reflecting the curved shape of the bill.