Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America

The book that made American bird-watching possible in the field: keys, plumages, songs and habits for every species of the East, by the man who ran ornithology at the American Museum.

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Family Recurvirostride

AVOCETS AND STILTS.

The eleven species comprising this family are distributed throughout the warmer parts of the world. They are generally found in flocks, and may be called Wading Snipe. They feed in shallow water, wading to their heels, and when necessary swimming with ease.. 225. Recurvirostra americana Gmel. AMERICAN AVOCET. Ad. in summer. Head and neck cinnamon-rufous, back and tail white, scapulars and primaries black; middle coverts, tips of the greater ones, and part of secondaries white; belly white, bill turned upward. Ad. in winter and Im.- SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC.

Generally similar, but head and neck white or pearl-gray. L., 16.50; W., 9.00; Tar., 3.75; B., 3.75.

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