Facts, Information, Scientific Name of Avocet
Let us fly into the life story of a Black and White eye-catching bird with a unique Scythe-shaped Beak.
Common Name – Avocet
Scientific name – Recurvirostra (Recurvus means ‘curved backwards or upwards.)
Size – 40-50 inches.
Distribution & Habitat.
Avocets are seen on beaches, Lakes, Ponds, and Brackish waters with exposed mud in the countries of Asia, Eurasia, North America, South America, and Europe.
Appearance
Males and Females look alike. They have a Black Head with Black and White Flanks(feathers) on their wings. Their underside is White and has long Grey or White Legs.
The beak of Avocet is an upward curve like a Scythe. As per similarity, the Beak is used for scything as the Bird swish his beak side to side cutting the prey it is about to feed on.
They have webbed feet making them Good Swimmers.
There are 4 types of Avocets Birds.
American Avocet, Andean Avocet, Pied Avocet, Red-necked Avocet.
Pied Avocet is found in India. Pied means the feather of the Pied Avocet isa combination of White and Black.
Avocet Diet
Avocets feed on Fish, Insects and Crustaceans
Breeding & Nesting Habit
In Breeding season to attract a mate, they perform the ritual of Calling with Dancing and Bowing towards the mate. Avocet built a nest in a water body with a depression of stones, soil, and debris on a mudflat. If the water level is high, they also built a nest a mould about a foot tall.
They make loud calls to distract or pretend to hurt so their predator is misled and goes away. They also dive with a huge intensity of bomb-diving that splashes water to scare off the Predator. Avocets are active birds seen at Dawn and Dusk. Avocets are Migratory birds. Avocets live upto 15 years of their age.
For more updates, follow our netexplanations home page