American Avocet - Recurviostra americana

The American Avocet is a North American bird which breeds in the mid-western U.S. and Canada and western U.S. They winter along the southern North American coast and Mexico. American Avocet males and females look similar, but the females are slight smaller and have a shorter and more curved bill. During breeding season their head, neck and breast are cinnamon colored.

American Avocets swish their long bill from side to side while walking, searching for aquatic invertebrates. The tip of their bill is sensitive to touch. They are fairly common in the S.F. Bay Area.

Juvenile

05/11/2009 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA 05/11/2009 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA	05/11/2009 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA 05/11/2009 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA	05/11/2009 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA 05/11/2009 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA
05/11/2009 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA 05/11/2009 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA	07/02/2008 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA 07/02/2008 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA	07/02/2008 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA 07/02/2008 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA
07/02/2008 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA 07/02/2008 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA

Breeding (March-Aug)

03/17/2008 - Albany Bulb; Albany, CA 03/17/2008 - Albany Bulb; Albany, CA	05/06/2008 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA 05/06/2008 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA	02/26/2010 - Emeryville Marina; Emeryville, CA 02/26/2010 - Emeryville Marina; Emeryville, CA
Also some Marbled Godwits and 1 Black-necked Stilt 02/26/2010 - Emeryville Marina; Emeryville, CA Also some Marbled Godwits and 1 Black-necked Stilt 02/26/2010 - Emeryville Marina; Emeryville, CA	04/22/2008 - Martinez Regional Shoreline Park, Martinez, CA 04/22/2008 - Martinez Regional Shoreline Park, Martinez, CA	04/16/2007 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA 04/16/2007 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA
04/22/2007 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA 04/22/2007 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA	Avocets sweep their heads back and forth 03/07/2008 - Martinez Regional Shoreline Park, Martinez, CA Avocets sweep their heads back and forth 03/07/2008 - Martinez Regional Shoreline Park, Martinez, CA	Breeding colors 03/20/2008 - Martinez Regional Shoreline Park, Martinez, CA Breeding colors 03/20/2008 - Martinez Regional Shoreline Park, Martinez, CA
04/10/2008 - Wildcat Creek Park, Richmond, CA 04/10/2008 - Wildcat Creek Park, Richmond, CA	Also Marbled Godwits 12/12/2008 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA Also Marbled Godwits 12/12/2008 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA

Non-breeding (Sep-Feb)

12/16/2007 - Aquatic Park, Berkeley, CA 12/16/2007 - Aquatic Park, Berkeley, CA	01/06/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA 01/06/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA	01/06/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA 01/06/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
12/25/2006 - Redwood City Park 12/25/2006 - Redwood City Park	01/15/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA 01/15/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA	01/15/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA 01/15/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
10/04/2007 - West County Landfill Loop Trail, Richmond, CA 10/04/2007 - West County Landfill Loop Trail, Richmond, CA	10/04/2007 - West County Landfill Loop Trail, Richmond, CA 10/04/2007 - West County Landfill Loop Trail, Richmond, CA

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