The American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), has a dark glossy coat and the bright reddish orange bill governed by a bright eye to see fish prey with. The Oystercatcher makes a bold fashion statement of severe black or black and white only colorations. Variable deep blue colorations, brown blendings, and prey-related orange to red beak shape variations do naturally occur.

This coastal seabird is approximately 19 inches in length with a wingspan of 38 feet. American Oystercatchers must find its habitat where oysters are, therefore it should come as no surprise the bird is found on the North American eastern seaboard. Mexico, South America, and global coastlands have also felt the presence of these rare birds. Atlantic coasts from New England to Florida hosts these sprightly birds. Oystercatchers use tideland shores for nesting, hunting, and mating. Bowing and vocalization characterizes typical mating behavior. Egg clutches of 2-3 eggs may be co-parented until young can hunt and survive on their own.

The business end of the Oystercatcher beak works the marine invertebrates scavenged from the sea, with special advantage to cracking shelled marine life with the strong beak. Oystercatchers dine regally on oysters, clams and mussels using the beak as a utensil. As blackish birds inhabiting rocky shorelines, Oystercatchers anywhere don’t lack protein, and keep fortified by fresh caught crustaceans, mollusks, mussels and/or limpets tracked on the wing.

Oystercatchers raise a clutch of two or three eggs. In winter, Oystercatchers are found in flocks along the coast from central New Jersey to the Gulf of Mexico. But they may also range as far South as bicoastal Central America. Although Oystercatcher populations are low, the species is not specifically protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Oystercatcher populations are undergoing fluctuations in several Eastern states because of low incidence of protected beach lands for nesting and declining emigrational populations. Land development, pollution and industrialization continue to erode coastal habitats. Threats include resort development and recreational use of nesting beaches.

New Zealand has its own entry in the avian Oystercatcher derby, the Variable Oystercatcher. There is also the Eurasian Oystercatcher which wades the flooded fields and pasturelands, hunting water fodder. Birding enthusiasts and bird watchers will note small differences in eye and leg color from the “American“ breed. Tideline zones of native coasts, salt marshes,  and beach coastlines must provide adequate nesting cover and protected hatching conditions for legitimate solidifying populations of Oystercatchers to render the species fully robust.

Please visit the Tropical Bird Forum for information about tropical birds.

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