American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

HOW TO IDENTIFY:

* Length: 15 inches
* Large, very long-legged shorebird
* Long, very thin, upturned black bill
* Blue-gray legs
* White rump and tail
* Sexes similar, but bill is more strongly recurved in female than in male

Adult alternate:

* Rust red head, neck and chest
* White lores and eyering
* White upper back, breast, belly and tail
* White back is bordered by two long, black stripes on the scapulars
* Black outer wing and white inner wing, with a black bar through middle of inner wing

Adult basic:

* Similar to adult alternate, but head, neck, and chest are grayish

Juvenile:

* Gray face
* Rusty wash on head and hindneck

Similar species:

Black-necked Stilt also has long thin bill and legs, but is smaller, and has pink legs, and all black wings and back.