Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)

Abundance:  Very Uncommon (13 records in 8 counties, 4 in Kentucky and 4 in Tennessee).

Status: Transient during spring (3 records) and fall (10 records); photographs (see links below).

Regional High Count: 20+ (Spring 1997; Barren County, Kentucky; Mark Vessels fide David L. Roemer; Palmer-Ball 2003).

Information on Records: 

28 July 1978 (2) Van Buren County, Tennessee (Rex Boner, Tim Frazier; Bierly 1978b), photo.

11 October 1982 (2) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore; Elmore 1983; Stamm 1983a).

29 April 1989 (6) Barren River Reservoir, Barren County, Kentucky (Virginia Kingsolver, Wendell Kingsolver et al.; Stamm 1989c).

1 October 1994 (10) Warren County, Tennessee (Mac McWhirter, Susan N. McWhirter; Witt 1995a).

15 August 1996 (1) Barren River Reservoir, Barren County, Kentucky (David L. Roemer; Busroe 1997a [attaches an incorrect date--15 September 1996--to this sighting]).

Spring 1997 (20+) Barren River Reservoir, Barren County, Kentucky (Mike Vessels fide David L. Roemer; Palmer-Ball 2003).

14-25 November 1998 (2-5) Cooley's Pond, Wayne County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo, m. ob.; Palmer-Ball 2003 [cites the dates as 14-26 November 1998]), photo.

15 September 2005 (10) Celina Wastewater Treatment Plant, Clay County, Tennessee (Terry M. Campbell photo; Casteel 2006a), photo.

28 July 2007 (2--alternate adults) Boiling Pond, Pete Felton Rd., White County, Tennessee (Douglas A. Downs, Stephen J. Stedman photo and unpubl. data).

10 November 2008 (1--basic) Casey Creek, Adair County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo and unpubl. data).

28 April 2009 (c. 20) The Narrows, Barren River Reservoir, Barren County, Kentucky (Mike Vessels fide David L. Roemer and unpubl. data).

26 September 2009 (1--basic) Irons Creek Rd., Clay County, Tennessee (Winston A. Walden photo, Michael P. O'Rourke, JD Becker unpubl. data), a Fall BirdBlitz record.

24 October 2009 (5) Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Barren River Reservoir, Barren County, Kentucky (Tom Durbin, Ben Yandell, Mary Yandell, David L. Roemer).

Regional Extreme Dates: 

    Spring: 28 April 2009 (c. 20; Barren County, Kentucky Mike Vessels fide David L. Roemer)-29 April 1989 (6; Barren County, Kentucky; Virginia Kingsolver, Wendell Kingsolver et al.); no other spring records with specific dates.

    Fall: 28 July 1978 (2; Van Buren County, Tennessee; Rex Boner, Tim Frazier; Bierly 1978b) and 28 July 2007 (2; White County, Tennessee; Douglas A. Downs, Stephen J. Stedman)- 25 November 1998 (2+; Wayne County, Tennessee; Roseanna M. Denton; Palmer-Ball 2003).

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: No registrations.

Habitat: Usually found where extensive mudflats are present, but may occur in other mesic habitats, including open water.

Remarks: At the time, the 1978 sighting established the earliest fall arrival date ever in Tennessee (Bierly 1978b). 

Counties with Observations (boldfaced):

To see a map (Figure 1) displaying the data in the table above, click on the boldfaced word in this sentence.

Literature Cited