Pied Avocet
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Pied Avocet

Recurvirostra avosetta

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied_avocet

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Pied Avocet faces significant pressure from habitat loss due to coastal development, drainage of wetlands, and conversion of saline lagoons for aquaculture. Climate change poses an additional threat through sea-level rise and altered precipitation patterns that affect the shallow, brackish waters essential for their feeding ecology. Disturbance at breeding colonies from recreational activities and tourism further compounds population pressures across their range.

Threat summary

Habitat

Pied Avocets inhabit shallow saline and brackish waters including coastal lagoons, salt pans, mudflats, and estuaries where they can wade and sweep-feed on small invertebrates. They prefer areas with water depths of 5-25cm and require nearby islands or elevated areas with sparse vegetation for nesting colonies.

MARINE· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Frequently asked questions

Why is Pied Avocet classified as Vulnerable?
Pied Avocet is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Pied Avocet faces significant pressure from habitat loss due to coastal development, drainage of wetlands, and conversion of saline lagoons for aquaculture. Climate change poses an additional threat through sea-level rise and altered precipitation patterns that affect the shallow, brackish waters essential for their feeding ecology. Disturbance at breeding colonies from recreational activities and tourism further compounds population pressures across their range.
Where does Pied Avocet live?
Pied Avocet occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Pied Avocet?
The main threats to Pied Avocet are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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