A striking shorebird with a long thick orange-red bill, bold black-and-white plumage, and yellow eyes. Specialized predators of bivalves — they pry open oysters, mussels, and clams with surgical precision.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
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.
Source: Wikipedia — American oystercatcher Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Boldly black-and-white shorebird with long bright orange-red bill, yellow eyes.
Similar species. Black Oystercatcher (Pacific; all dark). Other oystercatcher species (different ranges).
Voice. Loud piping "wheep, wheep, wheep" calls.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Bivalves (oysters, mussels, clams); also crabs and other marine invertebrates.
Behavior. Specialized predator of bivalves. Two foraging tactics: stabbing into open shells, or hammering closed shells until they crack.
§ Range
Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Massachusetts to Florida and Mexico
§ Habitat
Coastal beaches, salt marshes, oyster reefs, sandbars
§ Threats
Coastal development, beach disturbance during nesting, sea-level rise, oil spills.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the american oystercatcher is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Respect beach closures during nesting season. Keep dogs leashed on beaches. Support coastal habitat conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — American oystercatcher
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Haematopus palliatus
- IUCN Red List · taxon 22693643
- iNaturalist · taxon 4079
- eBird · ameoys
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Haematopus palliatus
§ Sources cited
- Audubon Society
- American Oystercatcher Working Group
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List 2018
