Oystercatchers · Shorebirds
Eurasian Oystercatcher
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Haematopus ostralegus
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Voice
Song
Olivier Grimm
Call
Jochem verweij
Alarm
Sonothèque ADVL
How to recognize it
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Large wader, crow-sized
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Bold black-and-white plumage
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Long straight orange-red bill, short dull pink legs
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Flight shows broad white wing bars and white underparts
About the species
The Eurasian Oystercatcher stands out at once with its black-and-white look and long bright bill. Near water, it is easier to notice by its purposeful walk and sharp call than by any calm, still pose.
It is noisy, restless, and almost always busy looking for food. It walks along shallow water, the tide line, and the edge of the shore, probing sand, water, and gaps between stones with its bill.
It favors coasts, large rivers, lakes, flats, and shingle beaches. It eats molluscs, worms, crustaceans, and insects, and in much of its range it moves south for winter, though some European coastal populations stay all year.
Where to find
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Along river embankments with sandbars, stones, and shallow water — the Eurasian Oystercatcher runs the edge and probes sand and mud with its long bill.
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By canal banks and pond margins after water drops, where mud is exposed — look for quick steps in the shallows and repeated jabs at worms.
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On stony shores of urban reservoirs — it stays out in the open and gives a loud piping call that carries far.
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On reclaimed ground or vacant lots near water — it feeds on bare patches, dashing from puddle to puddle.
Sources
- eBird — Haematopus ostralegus Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Eurasian oystercatcher Encyclopedia article