American Oystercatcher
Haematopus palliatus
The American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is a common oystercatcher found in 43 countries, weighing about 601 g. The American oystercatcher, occasionally called the American pied oystercatcher, is a member of family Haematopodidae.
About the American Oystercatcher
The American oystercatcher, occasionally called the American pied oystercatcher, is a member of family Haematopodidae. Originally called the "sea pie", it was renamed in 1731 when naturalist Mark Catesby claimed that he had observed the bird eating oysters. The current population of American oystercatchers is estimated to be 50,000 – 99,999 mature individuals. There are estimated to be 1,500 breeding pairs along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the US. The bird is marked by its black and white body and a long, thick orange beak.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The American oystercatcher has distinctive black and white plumage and a long, bright orange beak. The head and breast are black and the back, wings and tail greyish-black. The underparts are white, as are feathers on the inner part of the wing which become visible during flight. The irises are yellow and the eyes have orange orbital rings. The legs are pink. Adults are between 42–52 cm (17–20 in) in length.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in French Guiana, Dominica.
When to see it
The American Oystercatcher can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an American Oystercatcher?
- The American oystercatcher has distinctive black and white plumage and a long, bright orange beak. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an American Oystercatcher?
- The American Oystercatcher is a large sized bird weighing about 601 g.
- Where can you see an American Oystercatcher?
- The American Oystercatcher occurs in 43 countries, including the United States, Chile, Peru, Mexico and Argentina.
- What birds look similar to an American Oystercatcher?
- The American Oystercatcher is most easily confused with the Black Oystercatcher, the Pied Oystercatcher and the Variable Oystercatcher.
- Is the American Oystercatcher endangered?
- The American Oystercatcher is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
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