Avocet, << AV uh seht, >> is a type of long-legged wading bird. The American avocet is most common west of the Mississippi River, from Canada to the Mexican border. It is about 17 inches (43 centimeters) long and has a white body and black wings. The head and neck are streaked with brown during the breeding season. The long, flat bill curves upward. Another avocet species, the pied avocet, lives throughout much of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Pied avocets resemble American avocets, except they have both black and white plumage on the head.
The avocet feeds by scraping its bill along the bottom of shallow pools of water. In this way it collects small water animals, which it eats. It also eats other food that floats on or in the water. Harmful insects form part of its diet.
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American avocet
