American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

The American Avocet is a distinctive shorebird with a long, thin, upturned bill and striking black-and-white plumage. During the breeding season, its head and neck turn rusty orange, adding to its allure. These elegant birds are often found in shallow wetlands, mudflats, and salt ponds, where they forage for aquatic invertebrates by sweeping their bills from side to side. They are known for their graceful and rhythmic feeding behavior. American Avocets are highly social and often form large flocks during migration. Their populations face threats from habitat loss and degradation, but conservation efforts are underway to protect their breeding and foraging sites.

Habitat: Shallow wetlands, mudflats, salt ponds

American Avocet
© Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

Canada – Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour: June 12-29, 2027
Canada – Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour: June 12-29, 2027
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 18 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 1590.00 CAD
Canada – Saskatchewan Spring Birding Grand Tour: May 11-17, 2026
Canada – Saskatchewan Spring Birding Grand Tour: May 11-17, 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 7 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 50.00 CAD
Signs of Spring Birding Tour: 2 great options
Signs of Spring Birding Tour: 2 great options
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 20 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 190.00 CAD
Van Scoy Lakes Birding Tour – 6 hours with fascinating woodland and water birds
Van Scoy Lakes Birding Tour – 6 hours with fascinating woodland and water birds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 14 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 490.00 CAD
Best Birding Hotspots of SE Saskatchewan Tour from Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw or Weyburn, Canada: 2027
Best Birding Hotspots of SE Saskatchewan Tour from Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw or Weyburn, Canada: 2027
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 4 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 1490.00 CAD
Saskatoon Shorebirds – Great Short Driving Tour in 2026
Saskatoon Shorebirds – Great Short Driving Tour in 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 190.00 CAD
Redberry Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour – 8 hours with fascinating woodland and water birds
Redberry Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour – 8 hours with fascinating woodland and water birds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 14 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 390.00 CAD
Radisson Lake Birding Tour – 4 great hours with water and grassland birds
Radisson Lake Birding Tour – 4 great hours with water and grassland birds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 14 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 290.00 CAD
Porter Lake Birding Tour – 3 great hours with water birds
Porter Lake Birding Tour – 3 great hours with water birds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 14 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 190.00 CAD
Great Sand Hills Birdwatching Tour from Saskatoon, Kindersley or Leader – 3 new options
Great Sand Hills Birdwatching Tour from Saskatoon, Kindersley or Leader – 3 new options
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 1490.00 CAD
Grasslands National Park Birding Tour from Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw or Swift Current – Best Prairie Birds 2026
Grasslands National Park Birding Tour from Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw or Swift Current – Best Prairie Birds 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 2490.00 CAD
Cypress Hills Tours from Saskatoon and Maple Creek: 3 options for birding Saskatchewan’s great southwest
Cypress Hills Tours from Saskatoon and Maple Creek: 3 options for birding Saskatchewan’s great southwest
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 8 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 4980.00 CAD
Canada – Saskatchewan Autumn Birding Grand Tour: September 9 – 18, 2026
Canada – Saskatchewan Autumn Birding Grand Tour: September 9 – 18, 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 10 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 50.00 CAD
Canada – Saskatchewan Late-Summer Birding Grand Tour: August 24 – 29, 2026
Canada – Saskatchewan Late-Summer Birding Grand Tour: August 24 – 29, 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 6 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 50.00 CAD
Canada – Saskatchewan Mid-Summer Birding Grand Tour: August 3 – 10, 2026
Canada – Saskatchewan Mid-Summer Birding Grand Tour: August 3 – 10, 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 8 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 50.00 CAD
Canada – Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour: June 12 – 26, 2026
Canada – Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour: June 12 – 26, 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 15 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 50.00 CAD
Canada – Southwest Saskatchewan Birding Tour: July 9 – 16, 2026
Canada – Southwest Saskatchewan Birding Tour: July 9 – 16, 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 8 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 1830.00 CAD
Chaplin Shorebirds 2026 – Great Birding and Bird Photography Day Tour from Regina, Moose Jaw, Swift Current or Saskatoon
Chaplin Shorebirds 2026 – Great Birding and Bird Photography Day Tour from Regina, Moose Jaw, Swift Current or Saskatoon
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 890.00 CAD
Chappell Marsh Birding and Hiking Tour
Chappell Marsh Birding and Hiking Tour
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 130.00 CAD
Duck Lake and Nisbet Forest Birding Tour – 6 great hours with fascinating woodland and water birds
Duck Lake and Nisbet Forest Birding Tour – 6 great hours with fascinating woodland and water birds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 2 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 190.00 CAD
Best Birding Hotspots of Souris River 2026 Tour from Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw or Weyburn, Canada
Best Birding Hotspots of Souris River 2026 Tour from Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw or Weyburn, Canada
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3 days | 0h

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From 1990.00 CAD
Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour with 2 great options from Saskatoon or Regina
Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour with 2 great options from Saskatoon or Regina
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 1 day | 0h

A 1-day Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary outing from Saskatoon or Regina, focused on wetland, shorebird and prairie birding in one of Saska...

From 790.00 CAD