Mating behaviors of American Avocets are complex, ritualized, predictable and quite fascinating.
A few days ago I saw my first American Avocets of the season – four birds flying over the Antelope Island causeway as we approached the island. I’ve been anticipating their return for weeks and that experience reminded me of a series of photos I took last April of mating Avocets at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Some of the images are a little contrasty but I think they demonstrate the behavior pretty well.
1/3200, f/8, ISO 640, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The female initiates mating with this “solicitation posture” where she holds her head and neck low over the water. Then the male begins “sexual preening” where he vigorously shakes his bill in the water…
1/3200, f/8, ISO 640, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
and then brings some of that water up to his breast (inside his bill) and begins to preen the feathers there.
1/3200, f/8, ISO 640, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The male moves from one side of the female to the other many times (up to 16 times) and the intensity of the splashing increases just before he mounts her.
1/3200, f/8, ISO 640, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The very long legs of the species must make it difficult for the male to establish balance on the females back and usually when I’ve watched this process the male braces his bill on one side of her head, apparently to give him a third balance point to brace against. He also usually flutters his wings until cloacal contact is made.
1/3200, f/8, ISO 640, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This is the moment of the “cloacal kiss”.
1/3200, f/8, ISO 640, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
As he dismounts, the male wraps his wing over the female’s back…
1/3200, f/8, ISO 640, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
and they cross bills and perform a “bill-crossed run” of up to a dozen steps across the shallow water.
1/3200, f/8, ISO 640, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
As they separate both sexes assume this beguiling, identical posture for a step or two. I’ve never seen this posture described in the literature but in my experience it always occurs.
This entire mating ritual is almost identical to that of the Black-necked Stilt, which may contribute to hybridization between the two species.
I always try to photograph these avocet mating behaviors each spring. Hopefully I’ll get another chance in a few weeks.
Ron
Note: For the next few days I’ll be out of town on my first camping/photo trip of the season so I won’t be able to actively participate in any discussions that may pop up in the comments (though I will be reading them on my phone).
Wonderful series of photos.
Ahem! A little more romantic than the geese.great record of birding behaviour.
Very nice, Ron
Amazing photos. Such beautiful birds and interesting behaviors. Thanks for all the photos you share and the stories and facts that accompany them.
How different this is from when I took ornithology in 1970! I have birded in many locations, taken notes and acted as afield biologist should, but I am learning so much more information from your blog.
What a lovely series – interesting and beautiful photos. They’re going in Winged Things, Ron, along with your comments. Probably end of March. Please send me an email address so I can send you a copy of the newsletter. Thanks, Karen
What wonderful, fantastic, fascinating shots Ron!! This is a bird I think is delicate and beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Absolutely a joy to view … what beauty!!!!
Beautiful birds, beautiful colors, beautiful composition…nice to see no near drownings with these guys….some positions look like ballet…
Echoing Patty – on all counts. A perfectly choreographed routine. Thanks Ron.
Absolutely fascinating – and miraculous how you can capture all of these minuscule, over-in-a-second details. I love your postings.
Wonderful – thanks!
Great picts of a bird I’ve never seen. And, once again, thanks for being such a great teacher!
Beautiful Images. And thank you once again for your observations Ron !
Ron – As usual great pix of amazing bird behavior. I also hope someday to be able to witness this event. We do get both the Avocet and the Stilt in the Eastern Colorado area. Enjoy your camping days! Thanks for the many extraordinary postings – I look forward to receiving them since they are so enlightening!
Amazing and very interesting…Thanks!
WOW!!! and WOW!!!