Avocet -American
The American Avocet is a long-legged shorebird. It is characterized by a
long, thin bill that curves upward. In the female avocet, the bill
curves up a little bit more. This shorebird has a distinctive black and
white striped pattern on its back and sides. During the breeding season,
the head and neck are a pinkish-tan and during the winter they are a
grayish-white color. The avocet also has bluish-gray legs and feet; thus
its colloquial name, "blue shanks." American Avocets commonly are found
on mudflats, in saline lakes, in fresh water and saltwater marshes and
on coastal bays. They may be found in migration from March to May, and
again from July to October. Their nesting grounds are in the Great Basin
region of the western United States. Locally, they breed in the
Panhandle and in West Texas on the shores of inland playas and along the
Gulf coast. They winter as far south as Mexico and Guatemala. As a
protected species under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the only
real threat to them is the loss of breeding and wintering grounds due to
habitat degradation and destruction.» Habitat: mudflats, in saline lakes, in fresh water and saltwater marshes and on coastal bays.
» Discription: long-legged shorebird. It is characterized by a long, thin bill that curves upward. In the female avocet, the bill curves up a little bit more
» Breeding: Shallow, brackish coastal lagoons, and some freshawater marshes.
» Feeding: Avocets feed by wading in the shallow water at the edge of a lagoon or in tidal mud. In deeper water they swim readily and buoyantly, up-ending like a duck to reach food below the surface.
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