Pied avocet

The pied avocet is a striking wading bird with long, upturned legs and a slender black-and-white body. It lives across Europe, Africa, and Asia, often seen sweeping its curved bill through shallow water to catch food. It's the only avocet in its genus found across these three continents.

• Uses its upward-curving bill to sweep side-to-side in water for food.
• Found in Europe, Africa, and Asia—no other avocet in its genus lives in all three.
• Part of the Recurvirostridae family, which includes other long-legged waders.