LC
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: #http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of _the_WP15.xls#.
Cramp, S. and Simmons, K.E.L. (eds). 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass 304 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 83,800,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 77,200,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown poor estimated 2012
Population trend unknown - - -
Generation length 6.7 years - - -

Population justification: The global population is estimated to number c.280,000-470,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2015). The European population is estimated at 58,400-74,300 pairs, which equates to 117,000-149,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).

Trend justification: The overall population trend is uncertain, as some populations are decreasing, while others are increasing, stable, or have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2006). In Europe the population size is estimated to be fluctuating (BirdLife International 2015).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant native yes
Albania extant native yes
Algeria extant native yes
Angola extant native yes
Armenia extant native yes
Austria extant native yes
Azerbaijan extant native yes yes
Bahrain extant native yes yes
Bangladesh extant native yes
Belgium extant native yes yes
Benin extant vagrant yes
Bhutan extant native yes
Botswana extant native yes
Bulgaria extant native yes yes
Burkina Faso extant native yes
Burundi extant vagrant yes
Cameroon extant native yes
Central African Republic extant vagrant yes
Chad extant native yes
China (mainland) extant native yes
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the extant vagrant yes yes
Croatia extant native yes
Cyprus extant native yes yes
Czechia extant native yes
Denmark extant native yes yes
Djibouti extant native yes
Egypt extant native yes yes
Eritrea extant native yes
Estonia extant native yes
Eswatini extant native yes
Ethiopia extant native yes yes
Faroe Islands (to Denmark) extant vagrant
Finland extant vagrant
France extant native yes yes
Gambia extant native yes
Georgia extant native yes
Germany extant native yes yes
Gibraltar (to UK) extant vagrant
Greece extant native yes yes
Guinea extant native yes
Guinea-Bissau extant native yes
Hungary extant native yes yes
Iceland extant vagrant
India extant native yes
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes yes
Iraq extant native yes yes
Israel extant native yes yes
Italy extant native yes yes
Jordan extant native yes yes
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kenya extant native yes yes
Kuwait extant native yes yes
Kyrgyzstan extant native yes
Latvia extant vagrant
Lebanon extant native yes
Lesotho extant native yes
Liberia extant vagrant
Libya extant native yes
Luxembourg extant vagrant
Madagascar extant vagrant
Malawi extant native yes
Mali extant native yes
Mauritania extant native yes
Moldova extant native yes
Mongolia extant native yes
Montenegro extant native yes yes
Morocco extant native yes
Mozambique extant native yes yes
Myanmar extant native yes
Namibia extant native yes
Netherlands extant native yes
Niger extant native yes
Nigeria extant native yes
North Macedonia extant native yes
Norway extant native yes
Oman extant native yes yes
Pakistan extant native yes yes
Palestine extant native yes
Poland extant native yes
Portugal extant native yes
Qatar extant native yes
Romania extant native yes yes
Russia extant native yes yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Russia (Central Asian) extant native yes
Russia (European) extant native yes yes
Rwanda extant vagrant yes
Saudi Arabia extant native yes yes
Senegal extant native yes
Serbia extant native yes yes
Sierra Leone extant native yes
Slovakia extant native yes
Slovenia extant native yes
Somalia extant native yes
South Africa extant native yes
South Sudan extant native yes
Spain extant native yes yes
Sri Lanka extant native yes
Sudan extant native yes yes
Sweden extant native yes yes
Switzerland extant native yes
Syria extant native yes yes
Tajikistan extant native yes
Tanzania extant native yes yes
Tunisia extant native yes
Türkiye extant native yes yes
Turkmenistan extinct native yes
Uganda extant native yes
Ukraine extant native yes yes
United Arab Emirates extant native yes yes
United Kingdom extant native yes yes
Uzbekistan extant native yes
Western Sahara extant native yes
Yemen extant native yes yes
Zambia extant native yes
Zimbabwe extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Azerbaijan Divichi liman (or Lake Akzibir)
Estonia Karala-Pilguse
Portugal Castro Marim
Portugal Ria Formosa (Faro lagoon)
Portugal Sado estuary
Portugal Tejo estuary
Portugal Ria de Aveiro
Belgium Kuifeend and Blokkersdijk
Belgium Schorren en Polder van de Beneden-Schelde
Belgium Krekengebied
Türkiye Marmara Lake
Türkiye Sultan Marsh
Türkiye Seyfe Lake
Türkiye Samsam Lake
Türkiye Kulu Lake
Sweden Coastal area of Eastern Gotland
Sweden Getterön
Sweden Coastal area (including seaside meadows) of Eastern Öland
Sweden Bay of Skälder
Greece Kalloni Gulf, Lesvos
Greece Lakes Chortarolimni and Alyki, Moudros gulf, Diapori fen and Fakos peninsula, Limnos
Greece Mesolongi and Aitoliko lagoons, Acheloos delta and Evinos estuary
Greece Alyki Kitrous lagoon
Greece Evros delta
Greece Axios, Loudias and Aliakmonas rivers' deltas
Greece Gallikos estuary and Kalochori lagoon
Greece Lake Ismarida (Mitrikou)
Greece Porto Lagos, lake Vistonida and coastal lagoons
Greece Lake Kerkini
Greece Lakes Volvi, Koroneia and Rentina Gorge
Greece Spercheios valley and delta and Maliakos gulf
Spain Odiel and Tinto marshes and Huelva coastal lagoons
Belgium Zwin
Ukraine Syvash Bay
Ukraine Kazantip Cape, Aktash lake and Astanins'ka marsh
Ukraine Kuyal'nyts'kyj lyman
Ukraine Shagany-Alibej-Burnas lake-system
Ukraine Molochnyj Liman
Ukraine Yagorlyts'ka and Tendrivs'ka Bays
France Bassin d'Arcachon et Banc d'Arguin
France Estuaire de la Gironde : marais du Nord Médoc
France Golfe du Morbihan et Etier de Penerf
France Baie de Vilaine
France Estuaire et embouchure de la Seine
France Etangs Montpellierains
France Camargue
France Estuaire de la Charente
France Ile d'Oléron, marais de Brouage-Saint-Agnant
France Anse du Fiers d'Ars en Ré
France Traicts et marais salants de la Presqu'île Guérandaise
France Estuaire de la Loire
France Baie de Bourgneuf et marais breton
France Marais et forêt d'Olonne
France Marais poitevin et baie de l'Aiguillon
France Etangs de Leucate et Lapalme
France Cordon lagunaire de Sète à Agde
France Etang de Thau
France Petite Camargue laguno-marine
France Salines de l'Etang de Berre
France Marais entre Crau et Grand Rhône: Meyranne, Chanoine, Plan de Bourg et Salins du Caban
France Salins d'Hyères et de Pesquiers
France Etangs de Citis, Lavalduc, Engrenier, Pourra, l'Estomac, Fos et salines de Rassuen et de Fos
France Estuaires picards : baies de Somme et d'Authie
France Marais salants de Noirmoutier
Albania Karavasta Lagoon
Albania Patoku lagoon
Denmark Saltholm
Denmark Roskilde Fjord, Selsø and Kattinge Søerne
Denmark Saltbæk Vig
Denmark Islands and coast between Skælskør Fjord and Glænø
Denmark Præstø Fjord, Ulvshale, Nyord and Jungshoved Nor
Denmark Karrebæk, Dybsø and Avnø Fjords (coasts and islands)
Denmark Vadehavet (Wadden Sea)
Denmark Ringkøbing Fjord
Denmark South Læsø
Denmark Harboøre Tange, Plet Enge & Gjeller Sø
Denmark Ulvedybet and Nibe Bredning
Denmark Ho Bugt meadows
Denmark Ribe Holme and meadows at Kongeåen
Denmark Tøndermarsken, Magisterkog and Rudbøl Sø
Denmark Sydfynske Ø-hav
Denmark Eastern part of Vejlerne
Austria Southern Seewinkel and Zitzmannsdorfer Wiesen
Germany Wagbach lowlands
Germany Lower Rhine
Botswana Makgadikgadi Pans
Algeria Sebkha d'Oran
Egypt El Malaha
Egypt Lake Manzala
Egypt Lake Burullus
Ethiopia Abijatta - Shalla Lakes National Park
Ghana Keta Lagoon Ramsar Site
Ghana Songor Ramsar Site
Guinea Konkouré
Kenya Lake Elmenteita
Morocco Marais Larache
Morocco Merja Zerga
Namibia Walvis Bay
Namibia Sandwich Harbour
Tunisia Sebkhet Kelbia
Tunisia Salines de Thyna
Tunisia Sebkhet Sidi Mansour
Tanzania Lake Manyara
Tanzania Lake Eyasi
Tanzania Lake Kitangire
South Africa Spitskop Dam
South Africa Orange River Mouth Wetlands
South Africa Sandveld and Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserves
South Africa Swartkops Estuary - Redhouse and Chatty Saltpans
South Africa Verlorenvlei Estuary
South Africa Berg River Estuary
South Africa West Coast National Park and Saldanha Bay islands
South Africa Rietvlei Wetland: Table Bay Nature Reserve
South Africa False Bay Nature Reserve
Italy Argentario, Laguna di Orbetello Lagoon e Lago di Burano
Italy Gargano Promontory and Capitanata Wetlands
Israel Zevulun valley
Israel Carmel coast
Iran, Islamic Republic of Miankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay
Iran, Islamic Republic of Voshmigir dam
Iran, Islamic Republic of Horeh Bamdej
Iran, Islamic Republic of Hamidieh (Omidiyeh) plains
Iran, Islamic Republic of Shadegan marshes and tidal mudflats of Khor-al Amaya and Khor Musa
Iran, Islamic Republic of Izeh and Sheikho lakes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Gavekhoni lake, and marshes of the lower Zaindeh Rud
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Uromiyeh
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Maharlu
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Bakhtegan, Lake Tashk and Kamjan marshes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Shur Gol, Yadegarlu and Dorgeh Sangi lakes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Hamoun-i Sabari and Hamoun-i Hirmand
Iran, Islamic Republic of South end of the Hamoun-i Puzak
Iran, Islamic Republic of Hilleh Protected Area
Jordan Azraq
Oman Duqm
Saudi Arabia Sabkhat al-Fasl lagoons
Russia (European) Kiziltash limans
China (mainland) Anqing wetlands (Caizi Hu, Wuchang Hu and other lakes)
China (mainland) Yueqing Wan
China (mainland) Wenzhou Wan
Hong Kong (China) Inner Deep Bay and Shenzhen River catchment area
Pakistan Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary
Russia (Asian) Ulukhkol' lake
India Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary
Estonia Irbe strait
Estonia Kahtla-Kübassaare
Estonia Väinameri
Russia (Central Asian) Siverga lake
Azerbaijan Gizilagach
Portugal Mondego Estuary
Portugal Salinas de Alverca e do Forte da Casa
Russia (European) Yeiski salt-lakes
Russia (Central Asian) Lake system near Lotoshnoye village
Afghanistan Hamun-i-Puzak
United Kingdom Alde - Ore Estuary
Mongolia Dashinchilen Bayan Lake
Lithuania Nemunas delta regional Park
Bulgaria Atanasovsko Lake
Bulgaria Pomorie Lake
Bulgaria Varna-Beloslav Lakes Complex
Bulgaria Mandra-Poda complex
Bulgaria Yatata
Italy Po Delta
Italy Venice lagoon
United Kingdom Benfleet and Southend Marshes
United Kingdom Breydon Water
United Kingdom Deben Estuary
United Kingdom Minsmere - Walberswick
United Kingdom Humber Estuary
United Kingdom Thames Estuary and Marshes
United Kingdom Mid-Essex Coast
United Kingdom North Norfolk Coast
United Kingdom Exe Estuary
Sweden Fjord of Båta
Sweden Archipelago and coastline of North-East Scania
United Kingdom Hamford Water
Sweden Lomma Bight
Sweden Falsterbo – Bay of Fote
United Kingdom Poole Harbour
United Kingdom Tamar Estuaries Complex
Kazakhstan Lesser Aral Sea
United Kingdom The Swale
United Kingdom The Wash
United Kingdom Medway Estuary and Marshes
Hungary Alkaline lakes of Kiskunság
Hungary Cserebökény Pusztas of Szentes
Türkiye Erçek Lake
Türkiye Ceyhan Delta
Türkiye Seyhan Delta
Türkiye Acıgöl Lake
Türkiye Büyük Menderes Delta
Türkiye Gediz Delta
Hungary Lower Tisza Valley
Hungary Hortobágy and Tisza-to
Slovakia Senné
Italy Punte Alberete and Valle della Canna, Pineta San Vitale and Pialassa della Baiona
Italy Ortazzo and Ortazzino
Italy Cervia saltpans
Russia (Central Asian) Kurumbel'skaya steppe
Italy Cagliari wetlands
Germany Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park (includes the Halligs, Kniepsand/Amrum, Lister Koog, Rantumbecken, Rickelsb
Germany Greifswalder Bodden
Germany Elbe marshes between Stade and Otterndorf
Germany Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park
Germany Rheiderland
Germany Ems valley between Leer and Emden
Germany Krummhörn-Westermarsch
Germany Wismar bay and Salzhaff
Germany Coast and lagoons of Western Pomerania
Germany Dollart
Germany Einswarder Plate / Tegeler Plate
Romania Comana
Romania Danube Delta
Romania Jijiei şi Miletinului fish-ponds
Romania Ianca - Plopul - Sărat
Romania Lake Dunăreni
Romania Lake Tataru
Romania Maglavit
Romania Lake Beibugeac (Plopu)
Romania Suhaia
Romania Ilfov reservoir
Hungary Sárvíz Valley
Kazakhstan Vicinity of Korgalzhyn village
Kazakhstan Kumdykol-Zharlykol Lake System
Kazakhstan Uyalyshalkar Lake System
Kazakhstan Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve
Russia (Central Asian) Wetlands of Karasuk town
China (mainland) Desert and wetland from Northern Urumqi to Dabancheng
China (mainland) Barkol Lake and grassland
China (mainland) Ebi Nur and Kuytun River
Slovenia Sečovlje saltpans
Spain Villafáfila
Spain Gallocanta lake
Spain Ebro delta
Spain El Hondo wetland
Spain Santa Pola salt-pans
Spain Mata and Torrevieja lagoons
Spain Mar Menor coastal lagoon
Spain Pétrola-Almansa-Yecla
Spain El Hito
Spain Alcázar de San Juan-Quero endorreic lagoons
Spain Pedro Muñoz-Manjavacas endorreic lagoons
Spain Mountain range and saltpans at Cabo de Gata
Spain Cádiz bay
Spain Guadalquivir marshes
Spain Isla Cristina and Ayamonte marshes and Prado lagoon
Tunisia Sebkhet Halk el Menzel
Netherlands Biesbosch
Netherlands Duinen Goeree & Kwade Hoek
Netherlands Grevelingen
Netherlands Krammer-Volkerak
Netherlands Oosterschelde
Netherlands Wadden Sea
Netherlands Westerschelde & Saeftinghe
Germany Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park
Serbia Okanj I Rusanda
Serbia Pašnjaci Velike Droplje
Sierra Leone Yawri Bay
Senegal Djoudj wetlands
Senegal Guembeul Avifaunal Reserve and St Louis lagoons
Senegal La Petite Côte
Senegal Parc National de Basse Casamance
Mauritania Aftout es Sâheli
Russia (Asian) Trekhozerki lakes
Montenegro Bojana Delta
Montenegro Ulcinj saltpans

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded suitable non-breeding
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded suitable breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable non-breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable breeding
Marine Intertidal Mud Flats and Salt Flats suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Inland Deltas suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Inland Deltas suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes and Flats suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes and Flats suitable breeding
Altitude 0 - 3000 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Utilisation
Purpose Primary form used Life stage used Source Scale Level Timing
Food - human - - non-trivial recent
Pets/display animals, horticulture - - international non-trivial recent
Sport hunting/specimen collecting - - non-trivial recent

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Recurvirostra avosetta. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/pied-avocet-recurvirostra-avosetta on 19/03/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org on 19/03/2024.