is also 2 types with long, straight beaks (the Schlammstelzer and the stilt-runner) in this family of the Regenpfeiferartigen besides the 4 types of the Säbelschnäbler (type Recurvirostra) and a bird with downward bent beak (Ibisschnabel) summarized. However, this assignment of the Ibisschnabels is controversial under Systematikern; some researchers place it into an independent family and consider the tribal-historically old group of the oyster-fishers next relationship of this bird from central-Asia.
Also stilt-runners and Schlammstelzer have "overlong" Watbeine (receded rear-toe small or total), that makes possible for them carrying off invertebrates and small fish in the muddy terrain and in flat-water-zones. However, they don't skim off its food from (how Säbelschnäbler) the surface but carries off bigger animals exclusively through goal-oriented Pickbewegungen.
All types (exception): Ibisschnabel, showy, black-and-white or brown-white plumage-drawings and a similar Federlingsfauna (small parasites, who live on the keratin of the feathers) have, that properly deceased, however, from the parasites of the actual plovers.
The Säbelschnäbler have short rear-toes and swimming-skins between the fore 3 toes; therefore, they hardly sink in in the mud when wading.
Actual Säbelschnäbler (type Recurvirostra)) Two types live in the "new world": The 47 cm big Andensäbelschnäbler (Recurvirostra andina) lives in the salt-seas in the high mountain region-situations of the Peruvian, Bolivian, Chilean and Argentinian Andes. The 45 cm big "American Säbelschnäbler" or Braunhals-Säbelschnäbler (R). americana, from the prairies of the middle and western North America, that hikes southwards to Mexico in the winter, is bay feathered shining at the head and necks; the remaining plumage also differs only little from it in the coloring in Europe of native type.
Also the 42-43 cm big Rotkopf-Säbelschnäbler (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae), that is almost spread about the entire Australia, has (part-pickpockets reach occasionally also Tasmania and New Zealand) a sincerely maroon head and neck, the "usual" black-and-white body-plumage and light-gray-blue legs.
In its habits, the 3 mentioned types essentially don't differ big from the 43 cm and 220-435 g of heavy Säbelschnäbler (Recurvirostra avosetta), whose brood-area itself, properly split into incoherent populations, over Europe, Asia (as far as to the Mongolia, after Turkestan and to the western India) and Africa stretches.
Occurrences In Central Europe, Säbelschnäbler populate salt-meadows and newly verlandete coast-strips of the mudflat of the north and Baltic Sea*-coasts as brood-biotope. The entire population of this area amounted approximately to 1969/70 10 000 brood-pairs. Approximately the formerly strong continuances went clearly back from middle of the previous century until broods more frequently pulled up again successfully from 1920 Säbelschnäbler. Presumably, the extensive Eindeichungen and reclamations on the one hand as well as the increasing consciousness can be regarded as causes of the pleasant increase of the Säbelschnäblerbestände for bird-protection and recreated protectorates on the other hand.
Also without direct influence of the human being, the brood-successes are subject to strong fluctuations since Säbelschnäbler (also like the other types of the family) are very directly dependent on ecological changes of its nests and food-reasons. they nest as densely as possible at the water where suitable nutritional-conditions for alto-birds and big boy exist. However, the ground-vegetation can be only low in order to grant on the one hand the chicks protection sufficiently not to hinder on the other hand the view of along-drawing near ground-enemies, however. Säbelschnäbler often meet to brood-colonies of 10 and more animals, only rarely, such Nistgemeinschaften consist of 100 or even 200 brood-pairs.
Reproduction The nest usually consists of a flat ground-hollow, that is padded at all with little plant-material not or only sparsely. In the shallow shore-water, Säbelschnäbler, in fact both brood-partners, erect stone, grass u, Nisthügel out of quite diverse materials (mollusk-peels) from time to time. ä.).
The nest consists of 4 (rarely from 2-3) eggs (5 x 3,5 cm) and becomes erbrütet for 23-25 days from both alto-birds. The Nestflüchter carry a soft, sallow-white Dunenkleid with black line-drawing; they run already short time around after slipping and are led by both parents together. After 32-45 days finally, young Säbelschnäbler are independently and well flown. In the reproductive-period (beginning in Europe): April-May, Säbelschnäbler become mainly active for the day.
Nutrition Particularly in the early morning hours (4-8 o'clock) and in the evening, the birds look for its food. Little one invertebrates (until 1,5 cm of length) and its larvae amount the main-share of the loot-animals, however Säbelschnäbler take also bigger "worms" (Z). B. Ringlet-worms, mollusks and insects as well as occasionally also smallest fish on.
In the until waters deep to 15 cm "saws", ("mow") "touches" and "pecks" Säbelschnäbler after its food. The "sabre" marks two different behaviors: With the "solitaire runs individual birds slowly sabers" through the water and pulls it head-swings with lateral horizontally held, easily opened beak so through the upper silt-layers that the bent beak-part with these scythe-similar Mähbewegungen entlangfährt 2-3 cm deep in the mud. After 1-3 lateral Schwenkern, the Säbelschnäbler lift its beak from the water in order to gulp down its loot, ringlet-worms and snails or, in the freshwater, gnat-larvae.
With the "social sabre", several birds stride in a "driver-chain" through the water and fish, with horizontal until vertical beak-turns, high-whirled small-cancers on. When "touching", Säbelschnäbler stretch its neck and according to head diagonally in the front below, in order to fish watt-cancers (type Corophium) small with the top of the only little (until 5 mm) opened beak deep waters out of the few centimeter. The beak-top executes elliptical movements densely on that occasion over the mud.
In contrast to the optical, "pecking" oriented - the birds take in bigger loot-animals on this occasion with horizontally held front-beak through fast befalling from dry silt-surfaces and from the Bodenbewuchs - Säbelschnäbler feel its loot-animals when "sawing" and "touching".
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