Avocets - Facts for Kids

Basic Information & Classification

Avocets belong to the family Recurvirostridae, which includes both avocets and stilts!

The American Avocet’s scientific name is Recurvirostra americana, where “Recurvirostra” means “curved upward beak”!

A group of avocets is called a “colony” when nesting, and sometimes they form groups of up to 100 birds!

American Avocets can be found in wetlands, mudflats, and shallow lakes across North America!

Avocets typically live 9–15 years in the wild, but some have lived up to 15 years in protected environments!

An adult American Avocet weighs between 275 and 350 grams (about as much as two baseballs)!

Avocet babies are called chicks! Male and female avocets look alike, but the male’s beak is a bit straighter, while the female’s curves up more.

Avocets are wading birds that belong to the same class as other birds (Aves) but are specially adapted for life near water!

There are four different species of avocets found around the world: American, Pied, Red-necked, and Andean!

Avocets can grow to be 16–20 inches (40–51 centimeters) tall, about the height of a bowling pin!

Physical Characteristics

Avocets have uniquely upturned beaks that curve upward at the tip, unlike most other bird species!

An avocet’s legs can be up to 9 inches (23 centimeters) long — like a ruler and a half — helping them wade in deeper water!

American Avocets change color seasonally — their heads and necks turn from gray in winter to cinnamon-red in summer!

The wingspan of an adult avocet can reach up to 30 inches (76 centimeters), about the width of a classroom desk!

Avocets have partially webbed feet that help them swim and walk on muddy surfaces without sinking!

The curved beak of an avocet is perfectly designed to sweep through water and mud to catch tiny prey!

Avocets have special waterproof feathers that keep them dry even when they’re swimming or diving!

Avocets have excellent eyesight and can spot tiny insects and crustaceans from several feet away!

Baby avocets are born with straight beaks that gradually curve upward as they grow older!

The black and white pattern on an avocet’s wings helps them recognize each other during flight!

Behavior & Intelligence

Avocets work together in groups to herd small fish into shallow water where they’re easier to catch!

Avocets communicate using over 10 different types of calls, including special alarm calls for different predators!

Avocets perform a special “distraction display” where they pretend to be injured to lead predators away from their nests!

Avocets can sleep while standing on one leg, which helps them conserve body heat!

Avocets are excellent swimmers and can even swim within hours of hatching!

During courtship, male and female avocets perform synchronized dances together!

Avocets are known to defend their territory by charging at intruders with their heads lowered like tiny jousting knights!

Avocets spend 1–2 hours each day preening their feathers to keep them in perfect condition!

Avocets can remember good feeding spots and return to them year after year during migration!

Young avocets learn to feed by watching and copying their parents’ special sweeping technique!

Habitat & Survival

Avocets prefer shallow wetlands where the water is less than 8 inches (20 centimeters) deep!

Avocets can live in both freshwater and saltwater environments thanks to special glands that remove excess salt from their bodies!

During migration, avocets can fly up to 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) without stopping!

Avocets often build their nests on small islands or elevated areas to protect them from flooding!

Avocets create shallow scrapes in the ground for nests and sometimes decorate them with small pebbles and shells!

Avocets are excellent at camouflage — their black and white coloring helps them blend in with rippling water!

Avocets can run at speeds up to 15 miles per hour (24 kilometers per hour) when escaping danger!

Avocets have special sensors in their beaks that help them detect movement in mud and water!

Avocets often form mixed colonies with other shorebirds for better protection against predators!

Avocets can quickly change locations if their wetland habitat dries up or becomes unsuitable!

Life Cycle

Avocet eggs are speckled and camouflaged to look like small stones!

A female avocet typically lays 3–4 eggs, which both parents take turns incubating for about 23–25 days!

Baby avocets can walk and swim within hours of hatching — they’re called precocial chicks!

Young avocets learn to fly when they’re about 4–5 weeks old!

Both parent avocets share equal responsibility in raising their chicks!

Avocet chicks are born with waterproof down feathers that help them stay warm and dry!

Avocets usually start breeding when they’re 2 years old!

Avocet pairs often return to the same breeding grounds year after year!

Avocet eggs usually hatch within 24 hours of each other so all the chicks can leave the nest together!

Diet & Feeding

Avocets sweep their curved beaks from side to side in shallow water to catch tiny aquatic creatures!