American Avocet

Status Six records. Constance and Roswell Gallagher discovered and photographed the first individual on Cape Sable Island on 28 August 1969; another was seen shortly after on Sable Island on 16 September (C. and N. Bell). An early wanderer was found at Three Fathom Harbour, Halifax County, by Eric Cooke on 5 July 1970 and was photographed the next day by Ian MacLaren. Other individuals were on Seal Island on 22-23 September 1970 (several observers); at Cole Harbour, Halifax County on 4 September 1974 (B. Mactavish, S. Tingley) and near Canning, King's County, for a week in mid-September 1976 (O. Moorehouse et al.).

Remarks Breeding in the Prairie Provinces and the western United States, these wanderers were far from home in Nova Scotia. This species is one of the largest (40-50cm) and most showy of the shorebird group. Its outstanding characteristics are an exceptionally long, slender, upcurved bill, long legs, and contrasting buff, white and gray plumage, all of which combine to make the bird unmistakable.