• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Climate Change maps
• Reference and further resources

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.

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

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

	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	-

	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	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

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

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

Purpose	Scale
Food - human	subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture	international
Sport hunting/specimen collecting	subsistence, national

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/pied-avocet-recurvirostra-avosetta on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.