Scientific name: Himantopus himantopus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Waders
Field characters. 37 cm. Unmistakable due to very long (almost half of total length) rose-red legs, black and white plumage and long, thin, straight black bill (Avocet has upturned bill). Plumage white, with black mantle and wings and dark-grey crown and nape (in female crown and nape usually unmarked). Juvenile similar to adult, but plumage with brownish tinge. In flight legs extend far beyond tail; black underwing contrasts strongly with pure white underparts. When not wading, it has to 'crouch' due to length of legs.
Voice. Common note is a harsh, shrill "kik-kik-kik"; when flushed it produces frequently a nasal "queet".
Distribution. Locally a fairly rare breeding bird; a vagrant in northern Europe.
Habitat. Prefers still, shallow fresh or brackish water, especially where floating vegetation abounds, such as marshes and rivulets; also on flooded meadows; not very keen on overgrown margins. Rarely seen near coast.
Food. Takes invertebrates (mainly aquatic insects) from ground, plants, or water. May also take seeds of rushes and sedges, berries, amphipods, and small snails.