Avocette élégante

Identification

The pied avocet is a striking white wader with bold black markings. Adults have white plumage except for a black cap and black patches in the wings and on the back. They have long, upturned bills and long, bluish legs. It is approximately 16.5–17.75 in (41.9–45.1 cm) in length of which the bill is approximately 2.95–3.35 in (7.5–8.5 cm) and the legs are approximately 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm). Its wingspan is approximately 30–31.5 in (76–80 cm). Males and females look alike. The juvenile resembles the adult but with more greyish and sepia tones.<p>The call of the avocet is a far-carrying, liquid, melodious kluit kluit.

Taxonomie

The pied avocet was one of the many bird species originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae, where it was given the binomial name of Recurvirostra avosetta. This species gets its English and scientific names from the Venetian word avosetta. It appeared first in Ulisse Aldrovandi's Ornithologia (1603). While the name may refer to black and white outfits once worn by European advocates or lawyers, the actual etymology is uncertain. Other common names include black-capped avocet, Eurasian avocet or just avocet.<p>It is one of four species of avocet that make up the genus Recurvirostra. The genus name is from Latin recurvus, "curved backwards" and rostrum, "bill". A 2004 study combining genetics and morphology showed that it was the most divergent species in the genus.

Nom scientifique

Recurvirostra avosetta

Autorité

Linnaeus, 1758

Ordre

Charadriiformes

Famille

Recurvirostridae

Genre

Recurvirostra

Répartition et habitat

Aire de reproduction

AF, PAL : inland and coastal s British Is., Iberian Pen., far s Scandinavia (nw to sw Europe) and sw Russia to Transbaikalia (ne Russia) and ne China s through n Middle East, c Asia to ec Afghanistan, Sind and Kutch (coastal Pakistan and nw India); e and s Africa

Aire hors reproduction

to coastal n Africa, inland w Africa, Indian Pen., Sri Lanka, c Myanmar, c Thailand, and e China

Migration

Complete migrants

Comportement

These birds forage in shallow brackish water or on mud flats, often scything their bills from side to side in water (a feeding technique that is unique to the avocets). They mainly eat crustaceans and insects.<p>Their breeding habitat is shallow lakes with brackish water and exposed bare mud. They nest on open ground, often in small groups, sometimes with other waders. Three to five eggs are laid in a lined scrape or on a mound of vegetation.

Conservation

Tendance de la population

unknown