Avocet, av'o-set, a wading bird resembling the sandpiper. It is a native of North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The avocet is noticeable for a slender, upcurved bill and webbed feet. The American species, about sixteen inches in length, is an inland bird with a cinnamon colored head and neck, and having a white back, tail, and underparts. Portions of the wings are black. It has stilt-like, long, wading legs, and uses its bill in a peculiar manner. It wades rapidly in muddy water and swings the upturned end of its bill to and fro, sidewise like a scythe, searching on the bottom for snails, crayfish, etc. It has powerful wings, often used for swimming. The avocet nests in bare marshy places, and lays three to four pale olive, chocolate-spotted eggs. See BIRD.