This elegant bird is unmistakable, it is a large wader. Its plumage is white and it has black feathers on the top of its head (as if it were a bonnet), which continue along the neck down its nape, as well as on its shoulders and wing tips. Its legs and bill are long and unmistakable, the former have a light bluish hue and the latter is dark and characteristically up-curved.
It is a very gregarious bird, easily seen in large flocks, although it is possible to find it in some of the shallow ponds of ‘Cerrillos’ while feeding. It has a peculiar technique of moving forwards while “sweeping” the surface of the water with its curved bill, which is positioned almost parallel to it.
Species 1
Pied Avocet
Scientific name
Recurvirostra avosetta
Family 2
Recurvirostridae
Taxonomic Affinity Group 3
Waders
Phenology 4
It is a resident bird, although in winter it has the least sightings, almost disappearing. It is a common breeder, with a large population increase in the ‘Salinas de Poniente’ during the summer, possibly due to the incorporation of the new-born and the dispersion of those who are completing their reproductive cycle in other wetlands.
The graph represents the probability of seeing a species during the year, grouped into months. The vertical axis indicates the percentage value. Each of the bars expresses its value. The horizontal axis represents the months: I = January, II = February, III = March, IV = April, V = May, VI = June, VII = July, VIII = August, IX = September, X = October, XI = November and XII = December.
Observation recommendations
Observation areas where we can find it
Notes
[1] The names used are from the list of birds of Spain, drawn up by SEO/BirdLife and updated to 2019 (https://seo.org/listaavesdeespana/). The reference is: Rouco, M., Copete, J. L., De Juana, E., Gil-Velasco, M., Lorenzo, J. A., Martín, M., Milá, B., Molina, B. & Santos, D. M. 2019. Checklist of the birds of Spain. 2019 edition. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid.
[2] The taxonomic family to which it belongs is indicated.
[3] Traditionally, waterbirds have been grouped according to their taxonomy or “taxonomic affinity”, i.e., when some birds coincide in certain features that allow them to be classified scientifically, but without leaving the rigour of science, they are put together in these groups so that they can be easily recognised. These groups are the following: Greves (belonging to the Podicipedae family), Herons and Similar (includes the families: Ardeidae -Herons- Ciconiidae -Storks- and Threskiornithidae -Ibises and spoonbills-), Ducks (the whole Anatidae family), Coots and Similar (the family Rallidae corresponding to Rails, Gallinules and Coots), Cranes (also with only one family, the Gruidae), Waders , a heterogeneous group, the most diverse of this classification, includes the families Burhinidae (Stone-curlews), Haematopodidae (Oystercather), Recurvirostridade (Avocets and Stilts), Glareolidae (Pranticole), Charadriidadea (Plovers), Scolapacidae and finally Gulls and Similar (the recently unified family Laridae, i.e. Gulls and Terns).
[4] Phenology studies the relationship between the cycles of living beings and meteorological factors, and in our latitude these factors manifest themselves as variations throughout the year, thus relating the seasons to the birds’ cycles (breeding, migratory journeys, etc.) The graph shows the probability of seeing a bird depending on the month. It uses data from 48 bird censuses carried out between October 2016 and September 2018. The method used is that of a census route with sampling stations, with a total count on the sheet of water.