User:OliviaB22/sandbox

Introduction:

Taxonomy and systematics

The American avocet is a bird in the Charadriiformes Order, which includes shore birds, gulls, alcids, plovers, oystercatchers, and auks. Its Family - Recurvirostridae - includes stilts and avocets. The American avocet is one of four avocet species; the Andean avocet, the Pied avocet, and the Red-necked avocet are the remaining three species in the Genus.

Description

The bill is black, pointed, and curved slightly upwards towards the tip. It is long, surpassing twice the length of the avocet's small, rounded head.Like many waders, the avocet has long, slender legs and slightly webbed feet. The legs are a pastel grey-blue. During the breeding season, the plumage is brassy orange on the head and neck, almost down to the breast.

Distribution and habitat

American avocets were previously found across most of the United States until extirpated from the East Coast. American avocet breeding grounds are largely in areas just east of the rocky mountains including parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Utah, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and even down to parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Their migration route lands them in almost every state in the western United States. The avocet's breeding grounds are mainly costal. Along the Atlantic Ocean they are in North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. There are also breeding grounds along the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, Texas, and Mexico, and along the Pacific Ocean in California and Mexico. There are resident populations in the Mexican States of Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Mexico City and Puebla, and in Central California.

Behaviour and ecology

Vocalizations

"Melodic alarm calls"

Breeding

Somewhat done.

Threats

Shooting and trapping of American avocets led to population decline until the 1900s. During this time, the species was extirpated from most of the East Coast of the United States. By 1918, Avocets became protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712). Since that time, other threats have emerged. Contaminants and toxins such as DDT, selenium, and methylmercury, have had significant impacts on American avocet breeding success, especially because Avocet chicks are more susceptible to environmental disruptions than adults. The avocet also faces habitat loss. While agricultural and industrial environments have become alternate habitat for the avocet, natural wetlands are decreasing rapidly.

In culture

John James Audubon's depiction of the American avocet in breeding plumage.

Art

In his famous The Birds of America, John James Audubon describes a day of stalking and spying on the avocet. He judiciously noted their foraging, nesting, defensive, and flight behaviors.

Status

Done.

External Links

Somewhat done.