American Avocet

The American avocet is a shorebird that nests in the prairie pothole region of central North America, from southern Canada down to Northern Texas. They are very territorial and will defend their nest occasionally even against predators like northern harriers. Even though they are quick to defend their nest they are not against laying an egg or two in another avocet's nest or even the nest of another species. However what comes around goes around because avocets are sometimes found with eggs from other birds, such as black-necked stilts mixed in their nest. Fortunately avocet chicks do not take long to develop they are usually out of the nest and able to swim and run with in a day of hatching. During the winter avocets head down to the southwestern United States and Mexico. The red on the neck and head of this bird indicates that it is in breeding plumage.