Pre-mating courtship involves bill crossing and bowing dances with the female indicating their readiness to mate by crouching low with wings spread, this usually occurs in shallow water.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
At a glance
FamilyStilts and Avocets
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatUsually seen on or near water, both on the coast and inland.
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from October to January.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
65152approx records
6states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
In flight shows patches of black on the back, shoulders, and wing-tips. Usually seen on or near water, both on the coast and inland. It is the only avocet species in Australia.
Behavior
Wades in shallow water; readily swims in deeper water.
Gallery
Regional timing
Northern Territory
Victoria
Western Australia
Queensland
New South Wales
South Australia
Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory