Recurvirostra americana

Went birding this evening along the shores of Mono Lake in eastern California, at an area called Navy Beach. Happily the American Avocets are nesting en masse right now, right off the trail along the shore. As I walked by the adults began behaving very strangely, in ways I've never observed. They began giving high pitched shrieks and low guttural rasps, and spreading their wings wide and trying to guide me away from the nests. It was very reminiscent of the Killdeer's broken wing display, though much more flashy and bold. Their goal seemed to be more to distract and intimidate, rather than lure me away by acting vulnerable. It was fascinating to observe, a brand new birding experience for me.

There are four species of avocet worldwide: the Pied of Eurasia, the Red-Necked of Australia, the Andean of South America, and this species. They are grouped together with the stilts, other wading species with long, thin legs, necks, and bills. The American Avocet takes on a rusty coloration on its head and neck during the breeding season, which then changes to light grey in the winter.


Forgive my absence--backblips begin 11 June.