Wednesday 28 July 2010

Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)

OTHER NAMES: Avocet
Latin Etymology: Recurvirostra ("curved backwards beak") avosetta ("avocet")



Adult Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) at Frampton Marshes, Lincolnshire - August 2023

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 225-395g  /  Length: 43-45cm  /  Wingspan: 76-80cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List - Least Concern

The Avocet, or as it is known to people where it is not the only species of it's genus, the Pied Avocet is a striking wader notable for its strongly upturned beak and distinctive black and white plumage. It is perhaps most famous for being the logo of the RSPB. It is one of the more localised waders and is rarely seen on passage, so generally it's easiest to see them at sites where they are resident - the reserves around the Swale in Kent are fairly reliable options. Though they are not especially flighty, they do tend to prefer deeper water than most waders and so generally will be fairly distant compared to other species in the same habitat.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Recurvirostridae
Genus: Recurvirostra
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce breeding species (1500 pairs) and local Wintering species (7500 birds).
 - Regular at Oare Marshes, Elmley Marshes and Cliffe Pools Stray birds seen at Rutland Water and Rainham
SPAIN - Spanish - Avoceta
Resident
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Single bird seen at Laguna del Longar

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