adult

adult in flight European distribution adult

Identification

Avocets are easy to identify. The mostly white plumage, marked with sparse narrow black lines, is very distinctive, as is the upturned bill and blue legs. If the bird is feeding its bill may be hidden, but the way it is swept from side to side through the water is equally diagnostic.

Habitat

Breeds in shallow brackish lagoons and also near estuaries. Winters on muddy estuaries.

Migration

Birds concentrate in large numbers in the Waddensee area to moult between July and September, with most birds moving south-west during September-October to Spain, Portugal and west Africa.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Avocet is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 01/05/2009	Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 01/05/2009	Cley, Norfolk 21/05/2009	Holes Bay, Dorset 03/01/2010	St Clement, Cornwall 26/12/2009
Manningtree, Essex 23/12/2009	Manningtree, Essex 23/12/2009	Elmley Marshes, Kent 09/05/2009	Marshside, Lancs 19/04/2009	Brownsea Is., Dorset 28/07/2009

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Avocet breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belgium
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Lithuania
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Turkey
Ukraine

http://www.avibirds.com/euhtml/Pied_Avocet.html   Avbirds: Avocet	Edit this link
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http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob4560.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Avocet	Edit this link
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	RSPB: River Currents and Rising Seas Threaten Iconic Birds	Tuesday 24th April 2007
	The changing currents of a tidal river are threatening to swamp an RSPB reserve – and its important population of birds.   read on
	Avocet Breeding at Upton Warren, Worcs 2003	Friday 6th June 2003
	Avocets have successfully bred at a number of 'new' sites this year, including birds in Worcestershire.

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