Parques de Portugal

<p> <em>Recurvirostra avosetta</em> Linnaeus, 1758</p>

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  • Avocet

  • Recurvirostra avosetta Linnaeus, 1758

  • Recurvirostridae

  • The pied avocet is a wader bird with an unmistakable appearance, exhibiting black and white plumage, long and curved black beak and long blueish grey legs. The young have brown spots on their dorsal surface. It can grow to be 46 cm high and have 77 cm span.

  • Ria Formosa Nature Park

    Estuário do Tejo Nature Reserve

    Sapal de C. Marim e V. R. Sto. António Nature Reserve

  • Lisboa e Vale do Tejo

    Algarve

  • Near threatened (reproductive population) | Least Concern (visiting pop.)

  • The pied avocet lives on moist areas with shallow waters, be it fresh or salt water, with a mild substrate and rich on aquatic invertebrates, such as estuaries, coastal ponds, rice fields, weirs, salt lakes, and irrigated fields. It can form large flocks. It is represented on the symbol of the Nature Reserve of the Tejo Estuary.

  • All year long

  • The pied avocet feeds on aquatic insects and occasionally on small fish and vegetable matter. It obtains food by walking on the low tide and sweeping the mud with lateral movements of its beak, just like a tailor sewing.

  • The Portuguese population of this species is estimated to be between 170 and 500 nesting couples and 8469 wintering individuals.