Pied Avocet

Latin Name: 
Recurvirostra avosetta
Category: 
Size: 
45cm
Description: 

Sexes alike. Black and white plumage, long, bluish legs and long, slender upcurved beak diagnostic. In flight, the long legs extend much beyond the tail. Usually gregarious, only sometimes 2 to 3 birds scattered over waterbody; frequently enters shallow water; characteristic sideways movement of head when
feeding, the head bent low as upcurved beak sweeps along bottom mud; also swims and up-ends, duck-like.

Habitat: 
freshwater marshes, coastal tidal areas, creeks.
Food: 
aquatic insects, minute molluscs, crustaceans.
Distribution: 
breeds in Kutch, N Balochistan; winter visitor, sporadically over most parts of area, most common in NW regions.
Call: 
Call Description: 
loud, somewhat fluty klooeet or kloeep call, mostly on wing; also some harsh, screaming notes.