Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Scientific name definitions

42–45 cm; 195–397 g; tarsus 85–98 mm in male, 77–105 mm in female; wingspan 77–80 cm. Unmistakable; mainly white with black forehead , crown to below eyes, nape and upper hindneck; at rest, shows three distinctive black bands on mantle and scapulars, lesser and median upperwing-coverts, and outer six primaries; bill black and strongly upcurved, long legs blue-grey . Female tends to have shorter, more strongly curved bill. No seasonal variation. Juvenile similar to adult, but black is less intense or tinged brownish, and white upperparts have mottling of sepia, grey-brown or buff.

Europe through W & C Asia to SE Siberia and NE China, and locally through N Africa to E & S Africa, Arabian Peninsula and NW India. Winters from W Europe and Africa through Middle East to India, C Myanmar and SE China.

Breeds in flat, open areas typically at shallow saline lakes, lagoons, pools, saltpans and estuaries with sparse vegetation; to over 3000 m in Afghanistan. Outside breeding season also frequents muddy tidal flats; infrequently found on freshwater lakes and even rivers; sometimes on agricultural land (including rice stubble) (1 Lourenço, P.M. and Piersma, T. (2009). Waterbird densities in South European rice fields as a function of rice management. Ibis. 151(1): 196–199. Close ), particularly in Netherlands but also elsewhere.

Variable. N temperate birds mainly migrate Aug–Oct to tropical and warm temperate regions, staging en route in large numbers, e.g. in Netherlands. Roughly one-third of Atlantic seaboard population migrates to sub-Saharan Africa (e.g. Ghana) (2 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2014). The Birds of Ghana: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press, Liège, Belgium. Close ), but mean of 10,000+ birds each winter in both France and Iberian Peninsula, with up to 11,000 birds on Tagus Estuary, Portugal, and increasing numbers winter as far N as Britain (3 Rehfisch, M.M., Austin, G.E., Armitage, M.J.S., Atkinson, P.W., Holloway, S.J., Musgrove, A.J. and Pollitt, M.S. (2003). Numbers of wintering waterbirds in Great Britain and the Isle of Man (1994/1995–1998/1999): II. Coastal waders (Charadrii). Biological Conservation. 112: 329–341. Close ). Return movements in Mar–May, with many African migrants using Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania, as brief stopover. Some local overwintering elsewhere in W Europe. Patterns in Asia poorly documented, but wintering birds occupy Persian Gulf, NW India and SE China, presumably from C Asian breeding grounds, on Indian Subcontinent reaching as far S as Sri Lanka (4 Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia: the Ripley Guide. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ), although some remain as far N as Kazakhstan at this season (5 Wassink, A., and G. J. Oreel (2007). The Birds of Kazakhstan. Published privately, De Cocksdorp, Texel, The Netherlands. Close ). One-year-old migrants possibly remain on wintering grounds over following summer. E & S African birds sedentary or locally dispersive, but considered to be an intra-African migrant in some areas, e.g. mainly recorded in Zambia between mid May to Feb (especially from Sept) (6 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ), and species is apparently only a visitor to Malawi (7 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2006). The Birds of Malawi: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ). Contrary to some reports, species is mere vagrant to Cape Verde Is, with only c. 3–4 records. Elsewhere, rare visitor to Japan and Korea (8 Brazil, M. (2009). Field Guide to the Birds of East Asia: Eastern China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Eastern Russia. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), and vagrants have been recorded in Iceland, Faeroes, Azores, Madeira, Seychelles (Nov–Dec) (9 Demey, R. (2013). Recent reports. Bull. Afr. Bird Club. 20(2): 216–230. Close ) and Madagascar (Apr) (10 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), SE Asia (Thailand, Vietnam) (11 Robson, C. (2000). A Field Guide to the Birds of South-east Asia. New Holland, London, UK. Close , 12 Pilgrim, J.D., Bijlmakers, P., De Bruyn, T., Doppagne, S., Mahood, S.P. and Tordoff, A.W. (2009). Updates to the distribution and status of birds in Vietnam. Forktail 25: 1311097–136. Close ), Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak, Dec–Jan) (13 Bakewell, D. (2010). The work of the Malaysian Nature Society-Bird Conservation Council Records Committee (MNS-BCC RC) and updates to the status of birds in Malaysia. BirdingASIA 13:22–29. Close , 14 Anon. (2012). Recent reports. Suara Enggang. 20(2): 33–39. Close ) and the Philippines (Palawan, Mar) (15 Redman, N. (1993). Two new species of birds for the Philippines and other notable records. Forktail. 8: 119–123. Close ).

Carnivorous, taking great variety of mainly aquatic invertebrates 4–15 mm long, particularly aquatic insects, crustaceans and worms, rarely molluscs, fish (8–10 cm long) and plant material (seeds and small roots). Winter diet known best from Portugal where spionid worms, tubificid worms, small Nereis and Capitella polychaetes comprise bulk of diet (16 Moreira, F. (1995). The winter feeding ecology of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta on intertidal areas. II. Diet and feeding mechanisms. Ibis. 137(1): 99–108. Close ); on French Atlantic coast, food apparently dominated by chironomid larvae (17 Chépeau, Y. and Le Dréan Quenec’Hdu, S. (1995). Caractéristiques des sites d’alimentation nocturne des Avocettes élégantes Recurvirostra avosetta dans la presqu’île guérandaise. Alauda. 63(3): 169–178. Close ). Most often feeds by picking or by tactile scything of bill through water (typically < 15 cm deep) or mud; sometimes feeds communally, occasionally compact groups spinning around almost frantically on their own axis (18 Trolliet, B. and Girard, O. (1994). Avocets feeding in compact spinning group. British Birds. 87(9): 431. Close ). Under normal conditions, sweeps through water at median rate of 28 sweeps/minute, but less commonly this can be increased to at least 46 sweeps/minute (19 Moreira, F. (1995). The winter feeding ecology of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta on intertidal areas. I. Feeding strategies. Ibis. 137(1): 92–98. Close ). Regularly feeds at night, irrespective of tidal regimes (17 Chépeau, Y. and Le Dréan Quenec’Hdu, S. (1995). Caractéristiques des sites d’alimentation nocturne des Avocettes élégantes Recurvirostra avosetta dans la presqu’île guérandaise. Alauda. 63(3): 169–178. Close , 20 Le Dréan Quenec’Hdu, S., Chépeau, Y. and Mahéo, R. (1999). Choix des sites d’alimentation nocturne par l’Avocette élégante Recurvirostra avosetta dans la presqu’île guérandaise. Alauda. 67(1): 1–13. Close ).

Most-frequently heard call a continuous repeated mellow “kluuu” or “kluit”. When excited, gives a more emphatic “kloo-eet”. Alarm call a very different repeated drawn-out “krreee-yuw...krreee-yuw...”. During breeding season, several pairs may gather in interaction and utter a continuous fast chattering or low-pitched bubbling. Also soft clucking notes during nest relief.

Season Apr–Aug in Eurasia; Jan, Apr, Jun–Jul in E Africa; Aug in Zambia (6 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ) and mainly Jul–Nov across S Africa (21 Tarboton, W. (2001). A Guide to the Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ). Seasonally monogamous, with pair-bonds apparently formed in late winter, prior to arrival on breeding grounds. Usually nests in large colonies, sometimes with Himantopus himantopus (22 Cuervo, J. J. (2004). Nest-site selection and characteristics in a mixed-species colony of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta and Black-winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus. Bird Study 51(1):20–24. Close , 23 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ), especially dense on islands, where nests can be < 1 m apart (24 Hötker, H. (2000). Intraspecific variation in size and density of Avocet colonies: effects of nest-distances on hatching and breeding success. Journal of Avian Biology. 31(3): 387–398. Close ). Nest typically a grass-lined scrape (110–135 mm wide by 25–40 mm deep), sometimes with a raised rim and also lined with feathers, in open ground or amongst short vegetation. Usually 3–4 eggs (2–7) (23 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close , 25 Chokri, M.A. and Selmi, S. (2011). Nesting ecology of Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta in Sfax salina, Tunisia. Ostrich. 82(1): 11–16. Close ), clay-coloured irregularly spotted black, size 46–56 mm × 33–36 mm, mass 28–40 g, laid at 24–48-hour intervals; incubation normally 23–25 days (range 19–31 days) (26 Hötker, H. (1998). Intraspecific variation in length of incubation period in Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta. Ardea. 86(1): 33–41. Close ), by both sexes, starting with second or third egg; downy young silver-grey above grading to buff on sides of head, wing and sides of back, with small black spots on crown, two lines of larger parallel spots on back, and spots on thighs; chick nidifugous; fledging 32–42 days, with young sometimes gathering in small crèches of up to 20 birds tended by 1–2 adults. Birds that breed in semi-natural locations often lead young to nearby natural wetlands, during which process predation is common, yet hatching success is often higher at semi-natural as opposed to natural sites, indicating a trade-off between the two options for breeding (27 Lengyel, S. (2006). Spatial differences in breeding success in the pied avocet Recurvirostra avosetta: effects of habitat on hatching success and chick survival. Journal of Avian Biology. 37(4): 381–395. Close ). Larger clutches (> 4) and longer incubation periods indicative of intraspecific nest parasitism, which is commoner in high-density colonies and earlier in season, but does not appear to have any negative effects on productivity (28 Hötker, H. (2000). Conspecific nest parasitism in the Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta. Ibis. 142(2): 280–288. Close ). Nest losses due to natural flooding events, but also predation by species as diverse as red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (29 Hötker, H. and Segebade, A. (2000). Effects of predation and weather on the breeding success of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta. Bird Study. 47(1): 91–101. Close ), rats (Rattus) (22 Cuervo, J. J. (2004). Nest-site selection and characteristics in a mixed-species colony of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta and Black-winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus. Bird Study 51(1):20–24. Close ), feral dogs (25 Chokri, M.A. and Selmi, S. (2011). Nesting ecology of Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta in Sfax salina, Tunisia. Ostrich. 82(1): 11–16. Close , 30 Chokri, M.A. and Selmi, S. (2011). Predation of Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta nests in a salina habitat: evidence for an edge effect. Bird Study. 58(2): 171–177. Close ), Grey-headed Gulls (Larus cirrocephalus), Common Gull-billed Terns (Gelochelidon nilotica) and Brown-necked Ravens (Corvus ruficollis) (23 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ). Overall hatching success in Europe estimated at c. 22% (31 Macdonald, M.A. and Bolton, M. (2008). Predation on wader nests in Europe. Ibis. 150(Suppl. 1): 54–73. Close ). In some cases, hatching success is low in high-density colonies and in very low-density ‘colonies’ (single nests), but high in those with intermediate nest densities, with the low success rate of single nests caused by a very high predation rate, whereas low success rate in very dense colonies is caused by high rates of nest abandonment, which in very dense colonies is associated with high levels of intraspecific aggression during the egg-laying period (24 Hötker, H. (2000). Intraspecific variation in size and density of Avocet colonies: effects of nest-distances on hatching and breeding success. Journal of Avian Biology. 31(3): 387–398. Close , 32 Cuervo, J. J. (2005). Hatching success in Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta and Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus. Bird Study 52(2):166–172. Close ). Fledging success reportedly higher in wet opposed to dry years (27 Lengyel, S. (2006). Spatial differences in breeding success in the pied avocet Recurvirostra avosetta: effects of habitat on hatching success and chick survival. Journal of Avian Biology. 37(4): 381–395. Close ). Age of first breeding 2–3 years. Known to have lived more than 24 years in wild.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Extensive range, but previously more than half of population reckoned to breed in Europe; locally abundant in several parts of Africa, often coinciding with presence of migrants from Palearctic, but 19,300 estimated in S Africa (33 Delaney, S. and D. Scott, Editors (2002). Waterbird Population Estimates. Third edition. Wetlands International Global Series No. 12. Wageningen, the Netherlands. Close ) presumably almost exclusively comprise local residents; very large numbers (perhaps 100,000) in E Africa, between Ethiopia and Tanzania (33 Delaney, S. and D. Scott, Editors (2002). Waterbird Population Estimates. Third edition. Wetlands International Global Series No. 12. Wageningen, the Netherlands. Close ), perhaps also number many residents. Europe believed to hold 31,000–56,000 breeding pairs, with largest numbers in Netherlands (8400–9400 pairs in 1989–91), Denmark (4000–4500 pairs in 1987–1989), Germany (6000–7000 pairs in 2005–2009) (34 Gedeon, K., C. Grüneberg, A. Mitschke, C. Sudfeldt, W. Eikhorst, S. Fischer, M. Flade, S. Frick, I. Geiersberger, B. Koop, M. Kramer, T. Krüger, N. Roth, T. Ryslavy, S. Stübing, S. R. Sudmann, S. Steffens, F. Vökler, and K. Witt (2014). Atlas Deutscher Brutvogelarten [Atlas of German Breeding Birds]. Stiftung Vogelmonitoring Deutschland und Dachverband Deutscher Avifaunisten, Münster, Germany. Close ), Russia (1000–9000 pairs in 1980–1990), Spain (c. 4400 pairs in 1989) and Turkey (perhaps 5000+ pairs); also minimum c. 37,000 birds in winter, with 14,000–16,000 in France, 7000–20,000 in Portugal, 7200–11,000 in Spain, 5000–10,000 in Italy, and 1760–6500 in Greece. In W Palearctic as a whole, recently discovered breeding in Syria (35 Murdoch, D. A., and K. F. Betton (2008). A Checklist of the Birds of Syria. Sandgrouse Supplement 2. Ornithological Society of the Middle East, Sandy, UK. Close ), C Saudi Arabia (36 Jennings, M. C. (2004). Breeding birds in central Arabia, 1978–2003. Sandgrouse 26(1):35–47. Close ) and E Arabia (including Qatar and United Arab Emirates) (23 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ), for first time. More than 70,000 individuals counted in non-breeding season in E China (37 Cao, L., Tang, S., Wang, X. and Barter, M. (2009). The importance of eastern China for shorebirds during the non-breeding season. Emu. 109(2): 170–178. Close ). After contraction of range in NW Europe in 19th century, species has increased since 1940s, recolonizing England (where population had reached c. 1750 pairs in second decade of 21st century) (38 Holling, M., and The Rare Breeding Birds Panel (2014). Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 2012. British Birds 107(9):504–560. Close , 39 Holling, M., and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel (2015). Rare breeding birds in the United Kingdom in 2013. British Birds 108(7):373–422. Close ) and Sweden, and extending breeding range to Belgium and Norway, in part aided by specific habitat creation and management (40 Burgess, N. D., and G. J. M. Hirons (1992). Creation and management of artificial nesting sites for wetland birds. Journal of Environmental Management 34(4):285–295. Close ); numbers of breeders along North Sea coasts (including Sweden) increased from 1800 pairs in 1924/25 to c. 10,000 pairs in 1969, and 16,400–19,700 pairs in 1980s. Wetland breeding areas currently coming under increased pressure, and as this species is less opportunistic than most recurvirostrids there is cause for concern in several regions. From E Europe to China, pressures have come about primarily due to lack of protection of wetlands, both on inland breeding grounds and wintering grounds of coastal China and Indian Subcontinent. Similar problems exist in Mediterranean region, but protection and enhancement of wetlands in W Europe is believed to have assisted the recovery of populations in Britain , France, Belgium, Germany and Denmark. As with all wetland inhabitants, however, species susceptible to abuses of PCB, selenium, and lead pollution, and use of insecticides; similar problems also apply at several African wintering areas. More than 80% of large Dutch population breeds on Wadden Sea, where depends on appropriate management of saltmarsh habitat, and large numbers stage in Danish part of the Wadden Sea (41 Hötker, H. and Frederiksen, M. (2001). Estimation of total numbers of Pied Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta using a moulting site in the Danish Wadden Sea. Ardea. 89(3): 537–541. Close ). As 90% of European winterers concentrated at ten sites, protection of these is of paramount importance; > 15% of European winter population occurs at Tagus Estuary, Portugal, where threatened by mercury pollution, hunting and bridge building.