American Avocet

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Types of Shorebirds Black-necked Stilt Black Oyster Catcher Black Turnstone Dunlin Greater Yellowlegs Killdeer Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Dowitcher Least Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Marbled Godwit Pectoral Sandpiper Red-necked Phalarope Sanderling Semipalmated Plover Spotted Sandpiper Surfbird Western Sandpiper Willet Wilson's Phalarope

The American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is a fairly large (two feet) shorebird. It is confined to mostly Western habitats.

Avocets are fairly adaptable, living in both salt water and fresh water environments. Their diet consists of the marine organisms, such as insects or mollusks, in their territory. This general adaptability has helped keep population levels fairly stable.

The avocet is a rather striking bird. During breeding season the head turns to rust or reddish color, making them a popular shorebird to observe and photograph.

They are also social birds. You can see them year round, living and eating in small group settings.

The above picture shows an American Avocet in non-breeding plumage.

© 2006 Patricia A. Michaels