Pied Avocet
Recurvirostra avosetta
The Pied Avocet is a rare but striking visitor to Britain, typically seen during migration periods or as a scarce breeder in eastern and southern England, particularly in coastal wetlands and estuaries. It can be spotted from April to October, with the majority of sightings occurring during the spring and autumn migrations.
Field Identification Guide
Use these features to identify Pied Avocet in the field.
The Pied Avocet is distinguished by its black and white plumage, long, upcurved bill, and distinctive black stripe that runs across its white forehead, forming a striking pattern. Its legs are also a notable feature, being long and greyish-blue in colour.
The Pied Avocet is larger than a Lapwing, with a length of approximately 42-45 cm, making it a medium to large-sized wader.
The male Pied Avocet has a black back, wings, and tail, with a white belly, breast, and forehead, and a black stripe that runs across its forehead, with no significant seasonal variation in its plumage.
The female Pied Avocet is similar to the male, with no notable differences in plumage, making it difficult to distinguish between the sexes based on appearance alone.
The Pied Avocet's call is a loud, shrill "kleek" or "kluut" sound, often repeated in a series of high-pitched notes, which can be heard during breeding and migration periods.
Pied Avocets are known for their unique feeding behaviour, using their long, upcurved bills to sweep through shallow water in search of small invertebrates and crustaceans, and they are also recognizable by their slow, deliberate flight style, with their long legs stretched out behind them.
The Pied Avocet can be confused with other wader species, such as the Black-winged Stilt, but can be distinguished by its distinctive black and white plumage pattern, upcurved bill, and greyish-blue legs, which are not found in similar species.
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