Red-necked Avocet

The Red-necked Avocet, also known as the Australian Avocet, is a striking wader endemic to Australia. It is characterized by its slender elegance and a distinctive upcurved bill. The adult boasts a rich chestnut brown head and neck, a feature that gives the bird its name. The eyes are encircled by a narrow white ring, and the iris is a matching red-brown. Its plumage is predominantly white, with black secondary coverts and primary feathers. The bill is black, and the legs are a pale grey-blue. Both sexes are similar in appearance, and there is no seasonal variation in their plumage. Juveniles resemble adults but may have a paler and browner head.

Identification Tips

An adult Red-necked Avocet typically measures 43–45 cm from head to tail, with a wingspan of approximately 75 cm. The bill, measuring 8.2–9.5 cm, is notably upcurved and black. The legs are a subtle grey-blue, and the bird weighs around 310 grams. When identifying juveniles, note that they may exhibit a paler head and are difficult to distinguish post-juvenile moult.

Habitat

This species shows a preference for saline or brackish environments, often found in shallow wetlands, both fresh and saltwater, or on estuarine mudflats.

Distribution

The Red-necked Avocet is widely distributed across Australia, though it is rarer along the northern and north-eastern coasts. It is a nomadic bird, moving in response to rainfall patterns. The species is rare in Tasmania and occasionally seen as a vagrant in New Zealand.

Behaviour

Outside the breeding season, the Red-necked Avocet is found in small flocks, becoming more social and forming loose colonies during the breeding period. They are known to associate with stilts and engage in pre-mating courtship displays, including bill crossing and bowing dances. They are territorial during nesting, swooping at intruders to defend their space. The species can be sedentary in favorable conditions but migrates to coastal areas during dry spells.

Song & Calls

The Red-necked Avocet's call is a yapping sound, and flocks in flight can produce a cacophony reminiscent of dogs barking. Common calls include a fluty 'tuut' or 'kluut' for contact, with shorter, sharper yelps as warning calls.

Breeding

Breeding occurs mainly from August to November, with timing influenced by rainfall and water availability. Nesting typically happens in the southwestern interior, with nests being shallow scrapes lined with vegetation. Clutch size is usually 3-4 eggs, which are pale brown with sepia speckles and arranged in a circle.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists of small invertebrates, which the avocet catches by sweeping its bill through the water surface and mud. They swim readily and can upend to feed in deeper water. Their diet includes aquatic insects, larvae, brine shrimp, crustaceans, and seeds. Juveniles initially feed on small insects and seeds, pecking rather than skimming until their bills fully develop.

Conservation status

The Red-necked Avocet is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, climate change poses a threat by potentially reducing the number of inland breeding areas through extended droughts. Predation by introduced species like red foxes and feral cats affects chicks and eggs. The species has been observed to feign injury to distract predators from their young.