American Avocet

The American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) breeds in west North America. In winters lives from south USA to south Mexico and rarely in Costa Rica. Resides singly or in small groups in marshes and salinas. Adults are 46 cm (18 inches) in height and 350 g in weight.

Head and neck pale gray. Center of back, scapulars, secondaries, and underparts are white. Rest of upperparts black, and rump and tail pale gray. Bill black, and legs blue-gray. Its diet is based on seeds, and small aquatic insects and crustaceans.