12 
BULLETIN 1359, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Table 2. — Material identified in the food of the Wilson phalarope as determined 
from the examination of 106 stomachs, and the number of stomachs in which each 
item was found — Continued 
Animal Matter— Continued 
Abaneida (spiders) 
Unidentified spiders 
Mollusca (snails) 
Physa gyrina. 
Planorbis sp.. 
Vegetable Matter— Seeds 
Potamogeton pectinatus (sago pondweed) . 
Potamogeton sp . (pondweed) 
Vegetable Matter— Seeds— Continued 
Kuppiasp. (widgeon grass) 
Panicum sp. (switch-grass).. 
Distichlis spicata (salt grass) 
Scirpus paludosus (bayonet-grass) . 
Scirpus robustus (bulrush) 
Scirpus sp. (bulrush) 
Cyperaceae (sedges)... 
Polygonum sp. (smartweed) 
Amaranthus sp. (pigweed). 
Galium sp. (cleavers) 
Unidentified seeds. 
Vegetable rubbish 
AVOCET 
Recurvirostra americana 
The large, strikingly marked avocet is found in greatest abundance 
west of the Mississippi River, where it ranges from southern Canada 
south to the Mexican border. In winter avocets pass south through 
Mexico as far as Guatemala, some remaining in southern California 
and on the Gulf coast of Texas. Formerly they were found regularly 
along the Atlantic coast, but now are known only as stragglers in 
that region. Avocets are most common at present perhaps in the 
northern part of the Plains region and the Great Basin. Wherever 
found they attract attention, even from those ordinarily unobservant 
of birds. Though the long, slender legs and long neck may seem 
ungainly, avocets are graceful whether in movement or at rest. The 
bill, which is broad at the base, is flattened and thin, and at the tip 
is curved upward. The toes are webbed. The long pointed wings 
are black in contrast to the white of the remainder of the plumage, 
which in the breeding season is varied by a cinnamon wash on the 
head and neck. 
Though found at times alone, avocets are habitually gregarious, like 
many other shorebirds. During the breeding season they gather in 
colonies and nest on low ground adjacent to ponds, bays, or slow- 
running channels. Four strongly marked eggs are deposited in a 
slight hollow scantily lined with a few bits of grass or weed stems. 
The sites chosen often are subject to inundation by sudden floods, 
when the birds scurry about, seemingly in confusion, but in reality 
working actively to build up the nest in order to support the eggs 
above the level of the encroaching water. In some cases it may be 
necessary to erect a structure 12 or 15 inches in height. Weeds, 
small sticks, bones, or dried bodies of ducks or other birds, feathers, 
or any other materials available are utilized as building materials. 
Young avocets are able to run about at birth and accompany their 
parents across the open flats in search of food. A visit to a nesting 
colony is of the greatest interest to one who enjoys observing birds. 
Male avocets come flying out with loud calls to meet the intruder, 
and when he is actually near the nests or young the uproar becomes 
almost deafening. The adults dart at the head of the supposed 
enemy, or limp or flutter about, posturing grotesquely. Young birds 
are hustled away by parents, with the aid of solicitous neighbors, to 
be concealed in the scanty herbage, or piloted far out on the open 
flats, where they may be safe from capture. 
