{"id":70251,"date":"2019-03-22T06:28:17","date_gmt":"2019-03-22T12:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/?p=70251"},"modified":"2019-03-22T07:58:25","modified_gmt":"2019-03-22T13:58:25","slug":"american-avocet-sexual-behaviors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/22\/american-avocet-sexual-behaviors\/","title":{"rendered":"American Avocet Sexual Behaviors"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li><em>Occasionally I rerun a favorite older post because few current readers have seen it. A different version of this one was originally published on August 25, 2011. For this version I&#8217;ve changed the title, rewritten much of the text and cleaned up the formatting. I haven&#8217;t reprocessed the images so they have my old copyright watermark and I think some of them are just a little dark.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>American Avocets may have the most complex and reliably choreographed sexual behaviors of any bird species I photograph. When I&#8217;m watching them perform I can literally predict what their next move will be to an astonishing degree of accuracy. Much of it happens very quickly and is easy to miss when the observer is watching it live but photographs can freeze the action and tell the story well.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ll present several sequences of different birds that will illustrate most of the important stages of the behavior.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2608\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-8249\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8249.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,720\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-8249\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8249.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2608 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-8249 ron dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8249.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-8249\" width=\"900\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8249.jpg 900w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8249-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8249-150x120.jpg 150w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8249-400x320.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Avocets are monogamous and pairs form up in the spring when the female persistently associates with the male until she is eventually tolerated, then accepted as a mate. The female initiates copulation by the Solicitation Posture you see above. In that posture she holds her neck extended far out and low, so low at times that much of her head, bill and neck are under water as you&#8217;ll see in a later photo.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2609\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-8251\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8251.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,720\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-8251\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8251.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2609 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-8251 ron dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8251.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-8251\" width=\"900\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8251.jpg 900w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8251-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8251-150x120.jpg 150w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8251-400x320.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Once interested, the male performs Sexual Preening where he stands close to the female and extends his neck upward so that his bill tip can preen his breast, always on the side closest to her. His actual preening cannot be seen here but you&#8217;ll see it in a later image. Water is used in this specialized preening process which he gets by placing his bill in the water and vigorously stirring it around (as you see here) and then bringing the water in his bill to his breast. The water stirring becomes more intense just before copulation.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2610\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-8256\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8256.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,720\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-8256\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8256.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2610 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-8256 ron dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8256.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-8256\" width=\"900\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8256.jpg 900w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8256-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8256-150x120.jpg 150w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8256-400x320.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I find nothing in the literature about it but every time I&#8217;ve seen these birds mate, just as the male is about to mount her he places his bill on the side of her neck like this (you&#8217;ll get a better look in another image). I wonder if it&#8217;s just part of the ritual, perhaps to stimulate her, or maybe it&#8217;s a way to help him stabilize himself as he begins to mount her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2612\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-8257\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8257.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"824,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-8257\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8257.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2612 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-8257 ron dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8257.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-8257\" width=\"824\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8257.jpg 824w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8257-274x300.jpg 274w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8257-137x150.jpg 137w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8257-400x436.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 824px) 100vw, 824px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>He continues to press his bill against the side of her face as he mounts her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2613\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-8259\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8259.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"792,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-8259\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8259.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2613 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-8259 ron dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8259.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-8259\" width=\"792\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8259.jpg 792w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8259-264x300.jpg 264w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8259-132x150.jpg 132w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8259-400x454.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The back of the female must be an unstable staging platform for the male so he rests his tarsometatarsi on her back to help stabilize himself during the process. He flutters his wings to maintain balance. In this instance I missed the actual &#8220;cloacal kiss&#8221; because my buffer had filled up. Wouldn&#8217;t you know.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8269.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2614\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-8269\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8269.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"786,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-8269\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8269.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2614 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-8269 ron dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8269.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-8269\" width=\"786\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8269.jpg 786w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8269-262x300.jpg 262w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8269-131x150.jpg 131w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-8269-400x458.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the most endearing stage of this mating display is immediately after copulation when the birds always briefly cross bills like this and the male places his wing over the female in a way that seems loving and intimate to us. Here the left wing of the male is wrapped completely over her back but it&#8217;s difficult to make out. Another image below will show it more clearly.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2616\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-1198\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1198.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,643\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-1198\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1198.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2616 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-1198 ron dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1198.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-1198\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1198.jpg 900w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1198-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1198-150x107.jpg 150w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1198-400x285.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s another sequence of different birds to show some of the stages from a different angle and hopefully more clearly. In this shot the male is splashing his bill in the water as a prelude to Sexual Preening and the female is in her Solicitation Posture.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2617\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-1205\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1205.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"788,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-1205\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1205.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2617 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-1205\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1205.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-1205\" width=\"788\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1205.jpg 788w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1205-262x300.jpg 262w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1205-131x150.jpg 131w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1205-400x456.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 788px) 100vw, 788px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is a better look at the way the male presses his bill against the side of her neck\/face as he mounts her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2618\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-1211\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1211.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,688\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-1211\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1211.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2618 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-1211 ron dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1211.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-1211\" width=\"900\" height=\"688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1211.jpg 900w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1211-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1211-150x114.jpg 150w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-1211-400x305.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As I said before the females back is an unstable platform and in this case the male fell forward off of her. It made me laugh and feel sorry for them at the same time. Perhaps these birds were &#8220;first timers&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2620\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-4741\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4741.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,644\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-4741\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4741.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2620 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-4741 ron dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4741.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-4741\" width=\"900\" height=\"644\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4741.jpg 900w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4741-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4741-150x107.jpg 150w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4741-400x286.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Another look at the Solicitation Posture of the female and the male doing the breast preening part of Sexual Preening that we didn&#8217;t see in the first sequence above. Notice that he always preens on the side closest to the female.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2621\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-4983\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4983.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,730\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-4983\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4983.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2621 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-4983 ron dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4983.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-4983\" width=\"900\" height=\"730\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4983.jpg 900w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4983-300x243.jpg 300w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4983-150x121.jpg 150w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4983-400x324.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A different view of bill-crossing after copulation. Here the wing of the male being draped over the back of the female is more easily seen.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2623\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-2058\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-2058.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,639\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-2058\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-2058.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2623 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-2058 ron dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-2058.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-2058\" width=\"900\" height=\"639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-2058.jpg 900w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-2058-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-2058-150x106.jpg 150w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-2058-400x284.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Though not part of the mating behavior I decided to include a few images that illustrate some of the natural consequences of mating. In this photo the mated birds are constructing their nest. The female is on the nest while the male is picking up potential nest-building material. Sometimes he would toss it away after picking it up and other times he would deliver it to her and she would arrange it on the nest.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2625\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-5754\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-5754.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,722\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-5754\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-5754.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2625 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-5754 ron dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-5754.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-5754\" width=\"900\" height=\"722\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-5754.jpg 900w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-5754-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-5754-150x120.jpg 150w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-5754-400x320.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Incubating the eggs.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2626\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-7705\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7705.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,694\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-7705\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7705.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2626 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-7705\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7705.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-7705\" width=\"900\" height=\"694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7705.jpg 900w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7705-300x231.jpg 300w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7705-150x115.jpg 150w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7705-400x308.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The eggs are being turned. Clutch size is 3-4 eggs, usually 4. Here there are 4 but one is a little difficult to see.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4355.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2627\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-4355\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4355.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"775,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-4355\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4355.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2627 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-4355 ron dudley\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4355.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-4355\" width=\"775\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4355.jpg 775w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4355-258x300.jpg 258w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4355-129x150.jpg 129w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4355-400x464.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 775px) 100vw, 775px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>And here&#8217;s the end result of all of this &#8211; a cute little ball of fluff with huge legs and feet.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2628\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/25\/american-avocet-mating-displays\/american-avocet-7314\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7314.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"900,784\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"american-avocet-7314\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7314.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2628 size-full\" title=\"american-avocet-7314\" src=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7314.jpg\" alt=\"american-avocet-7314\" width=\"900\" height=\"784\" srcset=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7314.jpg 900w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7314-300x261.jpg 300w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7314-150x130.jpg 150w, https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-7314-400x348.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I didn&#8217;t have good light for this one but if you count legs you&#8217;ll see that there are four birds here.<\/p>\n<p>I want to point out that I never approached or disturbed adults or chicks to get these images. I never got out of my pickup and was always on the main road through the refuge where the shots were taken. Never did I see any sign that these birds were uncomfortable with my presence.<\/p>\n<p>Ron<\/p>\n<p><em>Note: American Avocets are seasonally monogamous meaning a mated pair stays with each other during the breeding season but they don&#8217;t remain together for the rest of the year. But many of them will pair up again with their previous mate the following year. Cornell&#8217;s Birds of North America Online puts it this way &#8211; &#8220;Avocets exhibit substantial but incomplete preference for old mates when they are present.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>American Avocets may have the most complex and reliably choreographed sexual behaviors of any bird species I photograph.<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/22\/american-avocet-sexual-behaviors\/\"><span>Continue reading<\/span><i class=\"crycon-right-dir\"><\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2621,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[381,334,2782,391],"tags":[27,1008,4482,471],"class_list":["post-70251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-avocets","category-birds","category-farmington-bay-waterfowl-management-area","category-nesting-and-mating","tag-american-avocet","tag-farmington-bay-waterfowl-management-area","tag-mating-displays","tag-recurvirostra-americana"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/american-avocet-4983.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1zzJh-ih5","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70251"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70251\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}