American Avocet

Description:

Breeding birds have a chic rusty head and neck that turns grayish white after breeding. A black patch on the back and black-and-white wings mark its largely white body. The legs are bluish gray.

Habitat:

Found in wetlands including shallow fresh and saltwater wetlands, salt ponds, impoundments, and evaporation ponds. Forages in open water generally less than 8 inches deep. During winter also uses intertidal mudflats, tidal lagoons, brackish impoundments, sewage ponds, rice fields, and flooded pastures.