American Oystercatcher Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  A large, thickset shorebird with a long, stout bill, a large head, robust neck, and long, thick legs.

  Relative Size

  Larger than a Willet, smaller than a Herring Gull.

  crow-sized

  Measurements

  • Both Sexes
  • • Length: 15.8-17.3 in (40-44 cm)
    • Weight: 14.1-24.7 oz (400-700 g)

  © David Disher / Macaulay Library

• Color Pattern

  American Oystercatchers look black-and-white from a distance, with a bright orange-red bill. At closer range, the back and wings are brown, with a black head and breast, white underparts, yellow eye, and red eyering. In flight, look for a white wingbar and white tail base.

• Behavior

  American Oystercatchers probe sandy and stony areas for clams, oysters, and other mollusks, which they open by cutting or smashing. Much of their day is spent resting in roosts during high tide. They are vigorous, and very loud, during courtship displays, territorial conflicts, and interactions with intruders.
• Habitat

  Barrier islands and beaches, saltmarshes, and shellfish reefs.