It is resident in the Andes, breeding above 3500 m in northwestern Argentina, western Bolivia, northern Chile and southern Peru.

This avocet has a white head, neck, underparts and rump, and dark brown back, wings and tail.

It is similar in size but slightly bulkier than the American avocet, at 43–48 cm (17–19 in) in length and 315–410 g (11.1–14.5 oz) in weight.

Average body mass is 361 g (12.7 oz), making it likely the heaviest of the Recurvirostridae family.

The Andean avocet nests near shallow, preferably alkaline lakes in the Andes, often in small groups.