Eurasian Oystercatcher
NameEurasian Oystercatcher
Common NameEurasian Oystercatcher
Scientific NameHaematopus ostralegus
FamilyHaematopodidae
Wingspan (cm)81
Length (cm)43
Weight (g)550
Plumage DetailsAdults have a glossy black head, neck, back, and upperwings, contrasting sharply with a pure white belly, rump, and a prominent white wing-bar visible in flight. The legs are pinkish-red, and the eyes are red with an orange eye-ring.
Vocalization / CallKnown for its loud, piping calls, often a rapid 'kleep-kleep-kleep' or a more drawn-out 'pic-pic-pic'. They also have a distinctive alarm call and a trilling display call.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal, estuaries, mudflats, rocky shores, saltmarshes, agricultural fields
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds across temperate Eurasia, from Iceland and Western Europe east to central Asia and Siberia. Winters along the coasts of Europe, Africa, and South Asia.
Identifying Featuresstriking black and white plumage, long, bright orange-red bill, red eyes with orange eye-ring, pinkish-red legs, loud, piping calls
Description
The Eurasian Oystercatcher is a large, distinctive wader known for its striking black and white plumage and long, bright orange-red bill. It typically forages on coastal mudflats and rocky shores, using its specialized bill to pry open bivalves and extract worms.
