American Avocet, Aristocrat on Stilts

If the Canvasback is the aristocrat of ducks, the Avocet is the aristocrat of stilted shorebirds. In shallow wetlands, their black-and-white bodies, long, upturned bill, and elegant profile stand out among the other wading birds. They generally forage and hang with other shorebirds in open shallow waters. Males and females are similar, with orangey heads and necks, long, upturned beaks, and black and white wings. 

Their breeding range is in the Midwestern U.S. and parts of the Pacific Northwest. They migrate through the Southern U.S. into Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, and Atlantic coastal areas.

American Avocets forage in shallow fresh and saltwater wetlands, salt ponds, impoundments, and evaporation ponds. They nest in areas with little or no vegetation along dikes and islands. During winter they also use intertidal mudflats, tidal lagoons, brackish impoundments, sewage ponds, rice fields, and flooded pastures.Diet consists of aquatic invertebrates, plants, small fish, insects, and seeds. They capture aquatic invertebrates in the water column by sweeping their bill side to side, a signature behavior called scything. With each step they put their slightly open bill in the water and move it in the direction of the outstretched foot, alternating sides with each step. They also capture prey by pecking and plunging.

Males and female choose a nesting site together, the male making scrapes in the ground until they finally choose a spot along islands with little to no vegetation. A clutch size is 3 to 4 eggs, and both parents tend to young and defend the nest. Intruders are met with outstretched necks or a crouch-run where they ruffle their feathers, crouch down, and run at the intruder. Upon the arrival of a terrestrial predator, Avocets may approach with a teetering gait and outstretched wings, as if on a tightrope. They also try to distract the predator by crouching on the ground as if incubating, only to move and crouch again in a new location.

Avocet populations are stable at this time and of low conservation concern. 

Original mixed media on raw stretched canvas with maple float frame. Alternate hardwood frame available upon request.

Sources: All About Birds and Audubon Society