American avocet
| American avocet | ||||||||||
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American avocet ( Recurvirostra americana ) in splendor |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Recurvirostra americana | ||||||||||
| Gmelin , 1789 |
The American avocet ( Recurvirostra americana ) is a species of bird in the family of the avocet (Recurvirostridae).
Appearance
The American avocet reaches a body length of 45 centimeters and a wingspan of 68 centimeters. Adult birds have long legs and a long beak that is slightly bent upwards at the front. The underside of the body is feathered white and shows clearly defined black and white areas on the back and the wings. In breeding plumage American avocets have a rust-brown neck. In males, the color is slightly more intense than in females.
In the plumage of American avocets can with the spread in Eurasia avocet be confused. However, the range of the two species does not overlap. The rust-colored color of the neck in the magnificent dress is only characteristic of the American avocet.
Distribution area
American avocets breed in the wetlands and shallow lakes of the prairie in the midwest and Pacific coast of North America . They build their nests on the ground and often breed in small groups.
American avocets are migratory birds and hibernate on the southern Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Mexico and the United States .
Way of life
American avocets look for their food in shallow water or in swamps. As with the European avocets , it is typical for them that they look for food while moving their head sideways. They mainly live on aquatic insects and small crustaceans.
supporting documents
literature
- Richard Chandler: Shorebirds of the Northern Hemisphere . Christopher Helm Publishing House, London 2009, ISBN 978-1-4081-0790-4
Individual evidence
- ↑ Chandler, p. 80
Web links
- Recurvirostra americana in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed on December 19 of 2008.
- Videos, photos and sound recordings for Recurvirostra americana in the Internet Bird Collection