American Avocet | Elaborate Mating Display!

American avocets (Recurvirostra americana) are beautiful birds that inhabit fresh and saltwater wetlands of North America. With elegant plumage and long, upturned bills, these birds are hard to miss. I'm happy to share with you my observations of seeing these birds forage, find a mate and begin to nest. Enjoy!
Chapters:
Introduction 00:00
Male or female? 00:26
Breeding and Non-breeding plumage 00:54
Similar species 01:04
Foraging and diet 01:37
Why is the female's bill more recurved? 02:00
Mating display 02:52
Nesting 03:47
Conclusion 04:26
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Photos and video sources:
Canva.com
www.canva.com/policies/free-m...
Flickr.com
www.flickr.com/creativecommons/
Videvo.net
Credits in order of appearance:
All credits from Canva.com unless noted.
Male or female?
-Male and female American avocet by Jim Williams
-Male in non-breeding plumage by Len Jellicoe
Similar species
-Black-necked stilt by mlharing
-American avocet non-breeding by Aristine
-Black-necked stilt by mygreenname
-American avocet non-breeding by Len Jellicoe
-Black-necked stilt by Dylan Nguyen
-Black-necked stilt by Mary Herron
American avocet non-breeding by Elena Oey
-Black-necked stilt by svetlanafoote
-American avocet with bluish legs by TeresaHedden
Foraging and Diet
-Two American avocets foraging by BlackBoxGuild from videvo.net
Why is the female's bill more recurved?
-Two American avocets foraging by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren from Flickr.com
-American avocet flock foraging by BlackBoxGuild from Videvo.net
-American avocets foraging by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren from Flickr.com

[@TSUNAMI-MAMI]

Such pretty birds!!! Elegant is the perfect word

[@dianestiner8602]

Beautifull elegant bird 🥰 . No such one in our country we have no wetlands 😔. How amazing females and males have a different bill. You make us discover so many amazing particularities in birds it's such a delight !. Thank you 🌺

[@allthingsbirdie]

Thanks so much, I appreciate that!

[@dumoulin11]

I had heard about this display but had never seen it. Thanks for showing it to us.

[@donnaleighjenkins4952]

Never seen this beauty before. This was informative and entertaining, thank you!❤❤

[@allthingsbirdie]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@travisbicklejr]

Excellent work as always! I’m jealous! I’ve never seen an American Avocet!

[@allthingsbirdie]

Thank you!

[@kitkat5765]

Super cool! Have not seen them myself but they occasionally show up here in Chicago on migration. They're super beautiful.
I know prey size differential is one theory for reverse sexual dimorphism in raptors, especially those like peregrines who focus on other birds almost exclusively. This with the beaks sort of sounds vaguely similar, enabling the different sexes to focus a bit more on different prey types. Fascinating!

[@rescuecpr571]

When you find the perfect channel 😍

[@allthingsbirdie]

Wow! Thank you for saying that!

[@rescuecpr571]

@@allthingsbirdie No problem! Never came across a channel that put so much work & effort towards little mini-documentaries like this, its something new and exciting for birdtube. Can't wait for what's next.

[@jackvoss5841]

Thanks. I appreciate the knowledge that you share with us. These are birds that I am unfamiliar with.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

[@allthingsbirdie]

You are welcome!