About the Eurasian Oystercatcher
The Eurasian oystercatcher or European oystercatcher, also known as the common pied oystercatcher, or just oystercatcher, is a wader in the oystercatcher bird family Haematopodidae. It has striking black and white plumage, a long straight orange-red bill, red eyes and relatively short dull pink legs. The sexes are similar in appearance but the bill of the female is longer than that of the male.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Eurasian Oystercatcher sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada, Australia, Mongolia, United States, Libya, Sudan, Vietnam, Lebanon, Turkmenistan, New Zealand.
When to see it
Peak activity in May · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatusThe American oystercatcher has distinctive black and white plumage and a long, bright orange beak.
Black OystercatcherHaematopus bachmaniThe 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.
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.
Side by side: American Oystercatcher vs Eurasian Oystercatcher · Black Oystercatcher vs Eurasian Oystercatcher · Eurasian Oystercatcher vs Pied Oystercatcher
Learn the Eurasian Oystercatcher for real
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