Pied Avocet
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Habitat and behaviour
Habitat: Coastal lagoons, estuaries.
Diet: Aquatic invertebrates.
Best time to spot: Up-curved bill; RSPB logo bird.
When to look
Resident in the UK, so it can be found year-round. More on the season in Bird migration in Britain.
How rare is it?
The Pied Avocet sits in our Uncommon tier for the UK: regular, but you usually need the right place or the right season. It is Amber-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5, the middle level of concern in the UK. It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is an offence to disturb it at or near the nest. We blur the location of every sighting of this species.
Where to see it
Reserves where the Pied Avocet is on the list:
Recent UK sightings
No community sightings logged for this species yet. Log the first one.
Similar birds
- Eurasian SpoonbillRare · Shallow coastal lagoons
- Mediterranean GullRare · Coastal lagoons
- Spotted RedshankRare · Estuaries
- Bar-tailed GodwitUncommon · Estuaries
- Barnacle GooseUncommon · Coastal grassland (winter)
- Black-tailed GodwitUncommon · Wet grassland
Kit that helps
Best spotting scopes for UK birding. Affiliate links, our own picks, no extra cost to you.
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