Photo: Dan Pancamo / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
American Avocet
Recurvirostra americana
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is a member of the Recurvirostridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 304 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Recurvirostridae Stilts, Avocets
- Genus Recurvirostra
- Species americana
Where it lives
Southeastern British Columbia to southwestern Ontario (south-central Canada) to California, Texas (western, south-central USA) and northern Baja California (northwestern Mexico) to central Mexico
Quick facts
- Weight
- 304 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Recurvirostridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The American Avocet hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The American Avocet is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is a species of bird in the Recurvirostridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA se British Columbia to sw Ontario (sc Canada) to California, Texas (w, sc USA) and n Baja California (nw Mexico) to c Mexico.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 304 g, with a wing length of about 21.8 cm and a tail of around 8.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the American Avocet?
The American Avocet is a large bird that weighs around 304 g.
Where does the American Avocet live?
The American Avocet is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA se British Columbia to sw Ontario (sc Canada) to California, Texas (w, sc USA) and n Baja California (nw Mexico) to c Mexico, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the American Avocet belong to?
The American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) belongs to the Recurvirostridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the American Avocet eat?
The American Avocet hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the American Avocet migrate?
The American Avocet is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the American Avocet endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the American Avocet make?
1 real field recording of the American Avocet — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the American Avocet's range?
The American Avocet has a mapped global range of about 2.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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