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M AVOCETS AND STILTS Family Recurvirostridae 



AMERICAN AVOCET 

 225. Recurvirostra americana. 17 in. 



Bill slender and recurved; feet webbed; feathers on 

 I the underparts very thick and duck-like, being imper- 

 I vious to water. In summer, the head and neck are pale 

 I 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, 

 I they keep their bill moving from side to side through 

 I the soft mud. 



Nest. Of grass, on the ground; the eggs are brown- 

 I ish-buff spotted with black (1.90x1.30); 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. 



