American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)

A willowy bird of western wetlands, the American Avocet is a mesmerizing specimen. I sighted this one in May, in a nature preserve near Newport Beach, California. Nobody can call the baby American Avocet a spoiled brat: not only is it born nest-less on the mucky shores of a dolorous bogland, it is expected to feed itself and dive underwater to evade predators within twenty four hours of hatching.