tags: American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds] American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana, photographed in Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 29 March 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with tsn-pz camera eyepiece 1/800s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
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I know next to nothing about waders, but the upturned bill, brownish head and location tell me these are American avocets (Recurvirostra americana)
American Avocet for sure--Rusty red head and neck (breeding colors), slender, upturned bill, black and white coloration on the body, silvery-gray legs wading... great bird!
The Spousal Unit will never, ever see a picture of or hear the word avocet without reminding me of the time we were tooling down the highway when I screamed out "Stop the car! An avocet, an avocet!" and forced him to stop and back up.
It was my first American avocet ever, so I don't think my reaction went too far. (As an added bonus, my first and only whimbrel flew by while we were stopped.)
Didn't comment on the recent upland sandpiper pics, but that species was responsible for another "Stop the car" shout. "How the hell did you see THAT at 60mph?" was the comment when I pointed out the upland sandpiper.