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American Avocet Photos

Photography by Terry Sohl

My Favorite: Another of my favorite species (I have a lot of favorites), American Avocets are a species of the western US. As such, our little corner of southeast South Dakota is the one part of the state where they don't generally breed, and are rather uncommon as migrants. It's always a treat to see one near here. My favorite is from April 2019 (as are photos #26 through #36!). On a rather slow birding day, where nearly all other shorebirds were absent, I came across a lone American Avocet at Weisensee Slough in far western Minnehaha County. This is actually a flooded road that he's foraging on, with melt from a very bad winter resulting in a lot of flooded wetlands this spring.

American Avocet - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 1 - Recurvirostra americana American Avocet 2 - Recurvirostra americana American Avocet 3 - Recurvirostra americana American Avocet 4 - Recurvirostra americana 

American Avocet 1

April 30th, 2005

Lake Thompson, South Dakota

American Avocet 2

April 30th, 2005

Lake Thompson, South Dakota

American Avocet 3

May 3rd, 2005

Lake Thompson, South Dakota

American Avocet 4

May 3rd, 2005

Lake Thompson, South Dakota

American Avocet 5 - Recurvirostra americana 

American Avocet 6 - Recurvirostra americana 

American Avocet 7 - Recurvirostra americana 

American Avocet 8 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 5

May 3rd, 2005

Lake Thompson, South Dakota

American Avocet 6

May 3rd, 2005

Lake Thompson, South Dakota

American Avocet 7

July 11th, 2009

Stone Lake, Sully County, South Dakota

American Avocet 8

July 11th, 2009

Stone Lake, Sully County, South Dakota

American Avocet 9 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 10 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 11 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 12 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 9

July 11th, 2009

Stone Lake, Sully County, South Dakota

American Avocet 10

July 11th, 2009

Stone Lake, Sully County, South Dakota

American Avocet 11

July 11th, 2009

Stone Lake, Sully County, South Dakota

American Avocet 12

July 11th, 2009

Stone Lake, Sully County, South Dakota

American Avocet 13 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 14 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 15 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 16 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 13

July 11th, 2009

Stone Lake, Sully County, South Dakota

American Avocet 14 (Juvenile)

July 7th, 2009
Bear River Bird Refuge, Utah

American Avocet 15 (Juvenile)

July 7th, 2009
Bear River Bird Refuge, Utah

American Avocet 16 (Juvenile)

July 7th, 2009
Bear River Bird Refuge, Utah

American Avocet 17 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 18 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 19 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 20 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 17

July 27th, 2009
Bear River Bird Refuge, Utah
 

American Avocet 18

(Non-breeding plumage)

July 27th, 2009
Bear River Bird Refuge, Utah
  

American Avocet 19

May 4th, 2014
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
 

American Avocet 20

May 4th, 2014
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
 

American Avocet 21 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 22 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 23 -  Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 24 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 21

May 4th, 2014
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
  

American Avocet 22

May 4th, 2014
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
 

American Avocet 23

May 4th, 2014
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
 

American Avocet 24

April 26th, 2015
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
  

American Avocet 25 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 26 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 27 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 28 - Recurvirostra americana

American Avocet 25

April 26th, 2015
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
 

American Avocet 26

April 20th, 2019
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
  

American Avocet 27

April 20th, 2019
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
  

American Avocet 28

April 20th, 2019
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
  

American Avocet 29 - Recurvirostra americana 

American Avocet 30 - Recurvirostra americana 

American Avocet 31 - Recurvirostra americana 

American Avocet 32 - Recurvirostra americana 

American Avocet 29

April 20th, 2019
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
  

American Avocet 30

April 20th, 2019
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
  

American Avocet 31

April 20th, 2019
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
  

American Avocet 32

April 20th, 2019
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
  

American Avocet 33 - Recurvirostra americana 

American Avocet 34 - Recurvirostra americana 

American Avocet 35 - Recurvirostra americana 

American Avocet 36 - Recurvirostra americana 

American Avocet 33

April 20th, 2019
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
  

American Avocet 34

April 20th, 2019
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
  

American Avocet 35

April 20th, 2019
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
  

American Avocet 36

April 20th, 2019
Western Minnehaha County, South Dakota
  
American Avocet 37 - Recurvirostra americana  American Avocet 38 - Recurvirostra americana  American Avocet 39 - Recurvirostra americana   

American Avocet 37

April 19th, 2020
Lake County, South Dakota
  

American Avocet 38

April 19th, 2020
Lake County, South Dakota
   

American Avocet 39

May 14th, 2016
Near LaCreek National Wildlife Refuge, South Dakota
 

Click here for the species description page for the American Avocet.

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