First Record of the American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) in Southern Honduras

Abstract

The American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is found from central-southern Canada to central and other parts of the United States of America, Mexico and Central America. In Honduras the American Avocet is a rare winter visitor with very few records on the northern coast of the country. On October 28, 2009 we observed and photographed two individuals of this species feeding on the Guameru winter lagoon, Choluteca (13° 06 25.82ˮ N and 87° 09 30.8ˮ W). Both birds had non-breeding plumage with a white head and body and black wings. This is the first documented record for the American Avocet for Choluteca department and throughout all southern Honduras. This observation highlights the need for inventories of biodiversity in the coastal region of the Gulf of Fonseca and other Honduras sensitive sites.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/ceiba.v52i2.1719