American Avocet

by Robert Bales

Title

American Avocet

Artist

Robert Bales

Medium

Photograph - Photo

Description

Out for a walk along the Payette River in Idaho I found 4 of these Avocets feeding in a little water next to the river.
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."
With its elegant profile and striking coloration, the American Avocet is unique among North American birds. In summer it can be found in temporary and unpredictable wetlands across western North America where it swings its long upturned bill through the shallow water to catch small invertebrates.
In response to predators, the American Avocet sometimes issues a series of call notes that gradually changes pitch, simulating the Doppler effect and thus making its approach seem faster than it actually is.
Nesting American Avocets aggressively attack predators, sometimes physically striking Northern Harriers or Common Ravens.
A female American Avocet may lay one to four eggs in the nest of another female, who then incubates the eggs. American Avocets may parasitize other species' nests too; single American Avocet eggs have been found in the nests of Mew Gulls. Other species may also parasitize avocet nests. Avocets have incubated mixed clutches of their own eggs and those of Common Terns or Black-necked Stilts. The avocets reared the stilt hatchlings as if they were their own.
American Avocet chicks leave the nest within 24 hours after hatching. Day-old avocets can walk, swim, and even dive to escape predators.

Uploaded

May 7th, 2014

Statistics

Viewed 1,717 Times  -  Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/14/2024 at 3:03 PM

Colors

Embed

Share

Sales Sheet

Tags