Black Oystercatcher

Black Oystercatcher, adult; Monterey, CA.

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A large, conspicuous, and noisy bird of the Pacific Coast, the Black Oystercatcher can be found along rocky shores from Alaska to Baja California.

Description

Large shorebird. Black head and body. Large red bill. Stout, dull pink legs. Eyes yellow, with surrounding ring of red skin.

• Size: 42-47 cm (17-19 in)
• Weight: 500-700 g (17.65-24.71 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Sound

Loud whistled "wheeps."

Conservation Status

Common and widespread.

Other Names

Huîtrier de Bachman (French)
Ostrero negro (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• Black Oystercatchers from Alaska to about Oregon are entirely black, but southward from there birds show increasing amounts of white feathers and browner (less black) abdomens.

Sources used to construct this page:

Andres, B. A., and G. A. Falxa. 1995. Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani). In The Birds of North America No. 155 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists? Union, Washington, D.C.