Bird Sighting

Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus · Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)

Where Oystercatcher has been seen

Oystercatcher in our records

Records
6
First recorded
24/01/2021
Last recorded
29/01/2026
Places
Elton Hall Flash

Recent records

About the Oystercatcher

The Eurasian oystercatcher or European oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), also known as the common pied oystercatcher, or (in Europe) just oystercatcher, is a wader in the oystercatcher bird family Haematopodidae. It has striking black and white plumage, a long straight orange-red bill, red eyes and relatively short dull pink legs. The sexes are similar in appearance but the bill of the female is longer than that of the male.

It is the most widespread of the oystercatchers, with four subspecies breeding in western Europe, central Eurosiberia, Kamchatka, China, and the western coast of Korea. No other oystercatcher occurs within this area.

Conservation status (IUCN)
Near Threatened
Wingspan
82 cm
Weight
46.7–518 g

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