About the Black Oystercatcher
The black oystercatcher is a conspicuous black bird found on the shoreline of western North America, ranging from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska to the coast of the Baja California peninsula.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The black oystercatcher is a large shorebird, with a black head, neck and breast and dark brown body, a long (9 cm (3.5 in)) bright red/orange bill and pink legs. It has a bright yellow iris and a red eye-ring. Its plumage varies slightly from north to south, being darker further north.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Peru, Puerto Rico.
When to see it
Peak activity in September · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Pied OystercatcherHaematopus longirostrisThe name "oystercatcher" is something of a misnomer for this species, because they seldom eat oysters, which are found mainly on rocky coastlines.
Variable OystercatcherHaematopus unicolor"Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black.
American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatusThe American oystercatcher has distinctive black and white plumage and a long, bright orange beak.
Side by side: Black Oystercatcher vs Eurasian Oystercatcher · American Oystercatcher vs Black Oystercatcher · Black Oystercatcher vs Pied Oystercatcher
Learn the Black Oystercatcher for real
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