Pied avocet

Introduction: Pied avocets (Recurvirostrata avosetta) inhabit salt pans, floodplains and sewage works. On rare occasions they have been observed on sandy beaches, along rivers and freshwater lakes. They forage and roost in flocks.
Distribution: Widely distributed in Namibia especially in Etosha National Park, northern Namib Desert, central and northern Namibia.

Diet: Mainly invertebrates and fish.

Description: Pied avocets have distinctive curved bills (Recurvirostra). Avosetta is the Italian name for a pied avocet. They are often confused from a distance with the crab plover.

Breeding: A nest is usually a scrape in the ground, often an animal footprint lined with twigs, feathers and bits of vegetation. Between 1 and 4 eggs are laid with an incubation period of 27 days.

Size: 45cm.

Weight: 380g.

Wingspan: 80cm.