The avocet (Himantopus himantopus) is a wading bird with very long legs from the family of avocets (Recurvirostridae). The Australian, South American and American avocet are often considered as subspecies of this species.
This bird has enormously long, pink legs (almost half the total length), a black and white plumage and a long, straight, needle-like bill. The mantle and wings are black, the head and crown are white (often grey in males). Males are more black than females, especially in summer. Females often have a brownish color. Juvenile looks like adult, but the top is more brown and the legs are dirty pink or greyish. In flight, the legs protrude far beyond the tail and the black under wings contrast strongly with the white body. If he doesn't walk in the water, he has to bend down deeply to pick up food.
Photographed in Blijdorp Zoo
We are Loek and Karin Lobel, and our passion is animal photography, both in the wild and in zoos.
We are loek en Karin Lobel and we love to take pictures in the wild but also in the Zoo...
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