AVOCETS AND STILTS—Family Recurvirostride 
AMERICAN AVOCET 
225. Reecurvirostra americana. 17 in. 
Bill slender and recurved; feet webbed; feathers on 
the underparts very thick and duck-like, being imper- 
vious to water. In summer, the head and neck are pale 
cinnamon color; young birds and winter adults have 
the head and neck white, but the rest of the plumage 
is the same as in summer. These interesting waders 
are very abundant in some localities on the western 
plains. During the breeding season, if not molested, 
they become very tame; at other times they are quite 
wary. Their food consists of water insects and small 
crustacea, which they secure in a novel manner. Wad- 
ing along in shallow water, with their head immersed, 
they keep their bill moving from side to side through 
the soft mud. 
_ Nest.—Of grass, on the ground; the eggs are brown- 
ish-buff spotted with black (1.90 x 1.30); May, June. 
Range.—Breeds locally from Texas and southern Cali- 
fornia northward to Saskatchewan; rare or casual east 
of the Miss. and on the Atlantic coast. 
