- Avocet
Taxobox
name = Avocets
image_width = 250px
image_caption =Pied Avocet
("Recurvirostra avosetta")
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Charadriiformes
familia =Recurvirostridae
genus = "Recurvirostra"
genus_authority = Linnaeus, 1758
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
*"Recurvirostra avosetta"
*"Recurvirostra americana"
*"Recurvirostra novaehollandiae"
*"Recurvirostra andina"The four species of Avocets arewader s in the sameavian family as thestilt s. They are found in warm or hot climates.They have long legs and long, thin, upcurved bills (giving their scientific name "Recurvirostra") which they sweep from side to side when feeding in the brackish or saline wetlands they prefer. The plumage is
pied , sometimes also with some red.The avocets have webbed feet and they will readily swim. Their diet consists of aquatic
insect s and other small creatures.They nest on the ground in loose colonies. In estuarine settings they may feed on exposed
bay mud s or mudflats.The
Pied Avocet is the emblem of theRoyal Society for the Protection of Birds .The four species, all in the genus "Recurvirostra", are:
*Pied Avocet , "Recurvirostra avosetta"
*American Avocet , "Recurvirostra americana"
*Red-necked Avocet , "Recurvirostra novaehollandiae"
*Andean Avocet , "Recurvirostra andina"In a large colony they are aggressively defensive and chase off any other species of birds that try to nest among or near them. That causes the annoyed remark "Avocet :
Exocet " from some Britishbirdwatcher s. [BBC TV 1 program "The One Show ", 7-7.30 pm 16 January 2008]They had been extinct in Britain for a long time because of
land reclamation of their habitat and persecution by skin and egg collectors, but during or soon afterWorld War II started breeding on reclaimed land nearthe Wash which was returned tosalt marsh to make difficulties for any landing German invaders.References
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