Photo: Grahame / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-necked Avocet
Recurvirostra novaehollandiae
Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 9 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae) is a member of the Recurvirostridae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 325 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 novaehollandiae
Quick facts
- Weight
- 325 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 Red-necked Avocet hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Red-necked Avocet is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae) is a species of bird in the Recurvirostridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia (except n, Tasmania).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 325 g, with a wing length of about 22.5 cm and a tail of around 8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 308,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-necked Avocet?
The Red-necked Avocet is a large bird that weighs around 325 g.
Where does the Red-necked Avocet live?
The Red-necked Avocet is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia (except n, Tasmania), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Red-necked Avocet belong to?
The Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae) belongs to the Recurvirostridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Red-necked Avocet eat?
The Red-necked Avocet hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Red-necked Avocet migrate?
The Red-necked Avocet is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Red-necked 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 Red-necked Avocet make?
1 real field recording of the Red-necked 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 Red-necked Avocet's range?
The Red-necked Avocet has a mapped global range of about 308,000 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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