Black Oystercatcher
NameBlack Oystercatcher
Common NameBlack Oystercatcher
Scientific NameHaematopus bachmani
FamilyHaematopodidae
Wingspan (cm)80
Length (cm)45
Weight (g)600
Plumage DetailsEntirely sooty black plumage, contrasting sharply with a long, bright orange-red bill. It has striking yellow eyes with an orange orbital ring and pale pinkish legs.
Vocalization / CallProduces loud, sharp, piping 'wheep' or 'kleep' calls, often given in a rapid series, especially when alarmed or in flight.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound along the Pacific coast of North America, from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska south to Baja California, Mexico.
Identifying Featuresall-black plumage, long, bright orange-red bill, yellow eyes with orange orbital ring, pale pink legs, rocky coastal habitat
Description
A distinctive, all-dark shorebird found on rocky coastlines. It uses its long, bright orange bill to pry open or hammer shellfish, its primary food source, foraging in the intertidal zone.
