340 



GAME BIEDS OF CALIFORNIA 



The Avocet is one of the easiest birds to recognize. The long, 

 more or less up-curved, black bill (fig. 60) (whence the name Recurvi- 

 rostra), and the still longer bluish legs, the rust}^ red head and neck, 

 the contrasted black and white wings, and the black, white-margined 

 V on the middle of the back are all diagnostic features (pi. 11). In 

 flight the rather small wings, and long bill, neck and legs, are also 

 useful as recognition marks. The only species with which the Avocet 

 could be confused is the Black-necked Stilt ; but the latter has a 

 shorter, nearly straight bill, and pinkish legs, and the top of its head, 

 hind neck and Mdngs are pure black without any white interruptions. 

 Also the Stilt entirely lacks any decided reddish in its coloration at 

 any season. In fall and winter the reddish coloration on the head 

 and neck of the Avocet is rej^laced by gray or whitish, but the other 

 distinctive markings remain as in summer. 



22169 



Fig. 60. Side of bill of Avocet. Natural size. 

 The up-turned end is characteristic (compare with fig. 62). 



Together with the Black-necked Stilt, this biid is sometimes known 

 as the "lawyer bird" because of its long bill and its oft repeated 

 vociferations! The call-note is a loud, not unmusical plee-eek, plee- 

 eek. When not molested by man and when not caring for nests or 

 young, the Avocet becomes quite tame and will permit a close 

 approach ; but when it has been persistently hunted or when rearing 

 young, it grows much more wary, and at the same time more noisy and 

 demonstrative. 



Avocets spend most of their time on open ground where they can 

 see and be seen for long distances. Their foraging is carried on along 

 muddy shores, often in the water. "When on shore they walk with 

 a swinging motion of the body, much like that of a person who is 

 mowing with a scythe, and the head is bobbed up and down at almost 

 every change in posture. They sometimes run after and capture the 

 larger insects, and while so engaged hold their wings partly expanded. 

 In the water they wade about and sweep their bills from side to side, 

 searching for insects or other forms of aquatic life. While thus 

 engaged they sometimes keep their wings partly expanded and held 

 vertically above the body. If they liappen to wade in beyond their 



