The avocet is a type of wading bird that is found across mudflats in the world’s warmer climates. There are four different species of avocet which are the Pied avocet, the American avocet, the Red-necked avocet and the Andean avocet. Find out more!

The avocet is a carnivorous animal and primarily feeds on insects and other small invertebrates in order to survive. Avocets also feed on small fish, crustaceans and even the odd amphibian when they are hunting in the water.

Due to their relatively large size, the avocet has a limited number of predators in its natural environment with dogs, cats, stoats and weasels being the primary predators of the avocet chicks and eggs.

Avocets are known to breed on open ground, generally close to the water. The female lays around 4 eggs which are incubated by both parents until they hatch a month later. The chicks are nursed by both parents until they fledge (fly away from the nest) at between 4 and 6 weeks old.

It is a very distinctive looking bird due to the fact that the avocet has a long and thin, upturned beak which it sweeps from side to side in the water to catch food.