American Oystercatcher Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesAmerican Oystercatcher
Adult
Large and chunky shorebird with a bright red bill and yellow eye.
© Dorian Anderson / Macaulay LibraryNew York, August 06, 2019Juvenile
Chunky shorebird. Juveniles are duller than adults with a dark-tipped bill.
© Michiel Oversteegen / Macaulay LibraryAruba, July 04, 2020Adult
Males and females incubate eggs laid in a small scrape on the ground.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, June 18, 2010Adult
In flight, note white wing and tail stripe. Flying birds often give piercing calls.
© Brandon Nidiffer / Macaulay LibraryTexas, May 24, 2019Adult
Conspicuous shorebird with a bright red bill and yellow eye.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, May 03, 2014Adult
Walks or runs along beaches and rocky shorelines.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, July 12, 2010Adult
Courting birds walk side by side giving single piping notes with their outstretched necks bobbing up and down.
© Susan Teefy / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, June 15, 2017Adult
Nests on the ground on sand dunes, marsh islands, or oyster shell mounds.
© Rob Bierregaard / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 23, 2017Adult
Found along beaches, rocky shorelines, and mudflats.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, July 01, 2010Habitat
Found in coastal habitats including sand or shell beaches, dunes, saltmarsh, marsh islands, mudflats, and dredge spoil islands made of sand or gravel.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 06, 2014Adult
Forages for aquatic invertebrates hiding in cracks of rocks. This video has no audio.
© Tim Laman / Macaulay LibraryGalápagos, May 21, 2010Similar SpeciesBlack Oystercatcher
Adult
Black Oystercatchers have a dark belly whereas American Oystercatchers have a white belly. Also note range differences.
© Joshua Covill / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, March 23, 2017Similar SpeciesBlack Skimmer
Breeding adult
Black Skimmers are found in similar habitats and have a large red bill, but they have tiny legs and a longer body than American Oystercatchers. Skimmers also have a black tip to its oddly shaped bill that oystercatchers lack.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 16, 2014
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