Avocet attacks shelduck. French: Avocette élégante German: Säbelschnäbler Spanish: Avoceta común. (Recurvirostra avosetta)

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It is not widely realised just how aggressive avocets can be over their breeding grounds. I have seen one (male) avocet drive off 3000 black tailed godwits. This went on all day every day as the godwits wanted to roost on the mudbank that the avocet nest was on. I have seen a flock of avocets drive off a marsh harrier and one of the avocets actually bit the tail feathers of the fleeing harrier! I have seen an approaching greater black back gull be turned 180 degrees and a GBBG is as big as many eagles. I have even seen them take a snap at a passing swallow. The only bird I ever saw stand its ground was a shellduck and eventually even that fled. Why? What is it about that slender flimsy bill that frightens everything off?

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Size: 5184px × 3455px
Location: Lincolnshire. UK
Photo credit: © fotolincs / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: aggression, attack., avocet., avocette, avosetta., behavior., belon, biodiversity, bird, blanco, brandgans, de, emblem, nest., nesting, protection., recurvirostra, rspb, tadorne, tarro, territory., äbelschnäbler, éégante