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Red-necked AvocetAlternate name(s): "Australian Avocet", "Cobbler", "Trumpeter", "Painted Lady" ![]() Size: 40-48 cm Weight: 270-390 g |
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Lateral view of a male(?) Red-necked Avocet; note the rather long,
only slightly upcurved bill
[Goran Lake, NSW, September 2011]
Close-up lateral view of a male(?) Red-necked Avocet sifting through water
[Goran Lake, NSW, September 2011]
Direct comparison of a male Red-necked Avocet, front, and a
Black-winged Stilt
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, November 2017]
Three Red-necked Avocets seen close together; probably the bird
in front is a male, the two behind are probably females
[Goran Lake, NSW, October 2011]
Near-dorsal view of a male Red-necked Avocet
[Goran Lake, NSW, September 2011]
Close-up lateral view of three Red-necked Avocets in flight, with
a male in the middle and two females above and below
[Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]
Comparison of the bills of Red-necked Avocets:
male above, female below - note that the male's bill is
shorter and less curved
(photos courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, QLD, July 2018]
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FEMALE |
Near-frontal view of a female(?) Red-necked Avocet; note the
prominently upcurved bill
[Goran Lake, NSW, February 2012]
Near-lateral view of a female(?) Red-necked Avocet
[Goran Lake, NSW, September 2011]
Close-up lateral view of a female Red-necked Avocet
[Goran Lake, NSW, February 2012]
Lateral view of a female Red-necked Avocet, left, with an
immature bird, probably also a female, on the right
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, QLD, July 2018]
Close-up near-lateral view of a female Red-necked Avocets in flight
[Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a Red-necked Avocet
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, QLD, July 2018]
Near-frontal view of a Red-necked Avocet
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, QLD, July 2018]
Group of Red-necked Avocets that has just woken up from resting
in shallow water
[Goran Lake, NSW, October 2011]
Red-necked Avocets resting on a sand bank in a dam
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, December 2013]
Near-dorsal view of two Red-necked Avocets
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, QLD, July 2018]
Dorsal view of a Red-necked Avocet
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, QLD, July 2018]
Frontal view of Red-necked Avocets in flight
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, , NSW, May 2017]
Small group of Red-necked Avocets in flight just above the water's surface
[Goran Lake, NSW, August 2011]
Small flock of Red-necked Avocets at take-off... (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Goran Lake, NSW, August 2012]
... and landing again after turning a full circle
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Goran Lake, NSW, August 2012]
Mixed flock of Red-necked Avocets and
Banded Stilts
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Rottnest Island, WA, April 2018]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Lateral view of a uvenile Red-necked Avocet
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles, SA, October 2022]
Lateral view of a juvenile Red-necked Avocet
[Goran Lake, NSW, September 2011]
Direct comparison between an adult, right, and a
juvenile Red-necked Avocet
[Goran Lake, NSW, September 2011]
Lateral view of a juvenile Red-necked Avocet, together with an adult
foraging with its head under water
[Goran Lake, NSW, September 2011]
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Dispersive | Elementary unit: Flock |
Red-necked Avocets are sociable birds; they do almost everything in large numbers.
Red-necked Avocets feeding as a pack
[Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]
Flock of Red-necked Avocets hustling a
Whistling Kite
[Goran Lake, NSW, February 2012]
Red-necked Avocets resting on a sandbank
[Goran Lake, NSW, March 2012]
Flock of Red-necked Avocets (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Mount Frankland NP, WA, October 2018]
This photo demonstrates how close to each other Red-necked Avocets
can fly; the two birds in front are in fact crossing paths
[Goran Lake, NSW, February 2012]
Red-necked Avocets do not like to be approached when close
to shore and will retreat into deeper water
[Goran Lake, NSW, August 2011]
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Food, Diet |
Red-necked Avocets feed on small animals they sweep up from just under the mud surface of shallow waters.
This photo illustrates Red-necked Avocets' hunting technique; they
sweep their bills sideways vigorously, dredging through the
mud
in pursuit of small animals just under the surface
[Goran Lake, NSW, August 2011]
Red-necked Avocets foraging in shallow water; note the
typical 'tail up' stance
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, September 2019]
Here one can see how Red-necked Avocets sift water for prey; the upper
mandible is stable while the lower mandible is moved up and down
[Goran Lake, NSW, September 2011]
Red-necked Avocets can feed at various depths, even with the
head under water
[Goran Lake, NSW, September 2011]
Red-necked Avocets foraging together
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, QLD, July 2018]
Three Red-necked Avocets feeding as ducks usually do
[Goran Lake, NSW, August 2012]
Red-necked Avocets feeding in shallow water, with their heads under
water (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
down
[Near Moree, NSW, October 2012]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
rnavoct_20170508_2.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Contact calls (2 birds) | © MD | |
rnavoct_20141206_4.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Contact calls | © MD | |
rnavoct_20151222_3.m4a | (NW NSW) | Contact calls (flock) | © MD | |
rnavoct_20151222.m4a | (NW NSW) | Warning calls (flock) | © MD | |
rnavoct_20151219.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Alarm calls | © MD | |
rnavoct_20151222_4.m4a | (NW NSW) | Upset (flock with Pink-e. Duck) | © MD | |
blwstlt_20151222_2.m4a |
leucocephalus (NW NSW) |
Upset (flock with Black-winged Stilt) | © MD | |
blwstlt_20151222.m4a |
leucocephalus (NW NSW) |
Upset (flock with Black-winged Stilt) | © MD |
More Red-necked Avocet sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.