Bird Guide

Black Oystercatcher vs Eurasian Oystercatcher

Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani)

Black Oystercatcher

Haematopus bachmani

Large555 g

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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Mike Baird, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus

Large526 gCoastal

The oystercatcher is one of the largest waders in the region. It is 40–45 cm (16–18 in) long, the bill accounting for 8–9 cm (3–3+1⁄2 in), and has a wingspan of 80–85 cm (31–33 in). It is an obvious and noisy plover-like bird, with black and white plumage, pink legs and a strong broad red bill used for smashing or prising open molluscs such as mussels or for finding earthworms. The sexes are similar in plumage but the female has a longer bill than the male.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0
Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · CC0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black Oystercatcher and Eurasian Oystercatcher.