Avocet
Scientific Name: Recurvirostra avosettaMaltese Name: Xifa
Family: Recurvirostridae (Avocets)
Occurence: Very Scarce
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Avocet is a wonderful striking bird with its black and white plumage. Has a thin, black bill, turned upwards making it a unique species. When seen at a distance it looks extremely white. Legs are very long. To feed, it tilts forward and searches the water with its bill, capturing shrimps and other small invertebrates in estuaries and wetlands. In Europe it breeds in coastal areas zones, making a nest on mud or sand. Some winter I the Mediterranean and other in Africa.
Status:
It is a very scarce and irregular migrant. Sometimes seen in Spring, Autumn and even in winter. Mainly seen in singles or couples at Ghadira Nature Reserve but sometimes small flocks are recorded migrating offshore.
When to See:
Spring mainly from March and April; Autumn August and September
Where to See:
Every year a few individuals 1-2 spend a few hours or days at Ghadira Nature Reserve. Seen also from coastal areas; Qawra, Cirkewwa, Ghallis, Bahar ic-Caghaq and Pembroke amongst others.
Photographs:
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Avocet, 10th October 2004, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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| Avocet, 16th December 2006, Ghadira Nature Reserve | Avocet, 10th November 2007, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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| Avocet, 26th July 2008, Ghadira Nature Reserve | Avocets, 4th April 2009, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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