Recurvirostridae - Avocets and Stilts

This is a small family, of only eight species. All are extremely long-legged, long-billed wading birds with a striking black and white plumage. The stilts have straight bills with pink legs, whereas the avocets have upcurved bills with blue-grey legs. All species take a range of invertebrates from under the water's surface, stilts by seizing them directly, avocets by scything their bill through the water, finding their prey by touch.

Regularly Occurring Species

Avocet

Occasional Visitors

Black-winged Stilt

BirdTrack migration blog – early spring

It may still feel like winter but for some species, the increasing temperatures and lengthening days have already kick-started spring migration, with birds starting to arrive and depart across Britain and Ireland.

Article

Biodiversity loss and the UK’s birds

Biodiversity loss is one of the biggest drivers of bird population declines in the UK. Learn what we’re doing to tackle this threat to nature and how you can support our work.

Case Study

BTO Data Reports

Our reports provide rigorous scientific information to inform Environmental Impact Assessments in the UK.