American Avocet

These graceful wading birds populate the U.S. west of the line of semi-aridity (about half-way through Texas). They have long, slender, bluish-gray legs with a lovely black accentuation on their backs. Their breeding plumage comes in as a strong rusty coloring all the way up their necks and heads, and their delicate bills have a noticeable upturn to them.

This specimen was one of eight at the Glendale Recharge Ponds in west Phoenix.