Red-necked Avocet

1. Chestnut-brown head and neck with a white eye ring

2. Long, upturned black bill

3. Pale blue-grey legs and bold black-and-white wing patterns

Red-necked Avocets are social birds, often seen in small groups or loose colonies. They feed by sweeping their upturned bills through water and mud to catch aquatic insects, crustaceans, and seeds. Breeding usually occurs from August to November, timed with rainfall and suitable water levels, mostly in the southern interior. Nests are shallow scrapes lined with vegetation, and a typical clutch contains 3-4 eggs. Both parents share incubation duties and care for the young. Juveniles initially feed by pecking at small insects and seeds until their bills are fully developed.

Look for Red-necked Avocets in shallow wetlands across mainland Australia, including salt lakes, brackish lagoons, estuaries, and even sewage ponds. They are most common in southern and western regions and are rare in Tasmania and the far north. These birds are highly nomadic and will move to new wetlands following rain, often appearing in large numbers where conditions are suitable. Watch for their characteristic side-to-side sweeping motion as they feed in the shallows, sometimes wading or even swimming in deeper water.