Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) turning its eggs. Birds turn their eggs to allow even incubation, good circulation of nutrients within each egg, and correct development of the chick and its surrounding membranes. The pied avocet is a large migratory wader whose breeding habitat is in shallow, brackish waters in temperate Eurasia. It migrates to Africa or southern Asia in winter and feeds mainly on crustaceans and insects.