Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae)
Red-necked Avocet

Red-necked Avocet

Recurvirostra novaehollandiae

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.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Red-necked Avocets on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Stilts, Avocets

A photo of a Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus)

Banded Stilt

Cladorhynchus leucocephalus
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Abi.M
Awesome App
I really enjoy using this app! It is such a friendly community of bird-lovers who are happy to help if I need ID advice. It’s been great motivation to get outdoors and go birding more! 10/10 😍😍
Mike T
Sense of Community
A great app, which is continually being improved. What really comes through is the passion of those behind the app. The sense of community is brilliant, so much help and support provided to new and/or in experienced birders.
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
Amylia S
Best app for any birding person!
I love this app!! I am so addicted to it when I saw it had 3 star review I was so sad! The app is awesome!! The best app for any birding person! âĪïļ
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
Talli A
My favourite app
As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁
Dunners12345
Great App
Great app to use for logging and communicating with others who are interested in birds
Ellesse_W
Learning Birding with Birda
I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! ðŸĶ
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright ÂĐ 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.