American Oystercatcher

American Oystercatcher - Ostrygojad brunatny

New York, Canarsie, 2013

Description

The American Oystercatcher has distinctive black and white plumage and a long, bright orange beak. The head and breast are black and the back, wings and tail greyish-black. The underparts are white, as are feathers on the inner part of the wing which become visible during flight. The irises are yellow and the eyes have orange orbital rings. The legs are pink.

Habitat

The American Oystercatcher is found on the Atlantic coast of North America from New England to northern Florida, where it is also found on the Gulf coast, and south to Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. In the 19th century they became locally extinct in the northeast of the United States due to market hunting and egg collecting. The American Oystercatcher is common in coastal salt marshes and sand beaches throughout the central part of its range. One of the few birds to specialize on bivalve mollusks living in saltwater, this species is completely restricted to marine habitats. Although this oystercatcher inhabits coastal areas where human encroachment, habitat loss, and destruction are threats, the recent establishment of large coastal reserves helps to protect the center of its abundance. This species adapts well to dredge spoil islands, and is often the most common breeder in such locations.

Voice

Sounds of American Oystercatcher

Diet

Oystercatchers are closely tied to coastal habitats. They nest on beaches on coastal islands and feed on marine invertebrates. The large, heavy beak is used to pry open bivalve mollusks. Feeds mostly on mussels, clams, oysters; also marine worms, sand crabs, limpets, and other small creatures of the intertidal zone. Often forages by walking in shallow water, searching for food by sight. Finding an oyster or mussel with its shell open, the oystercatcher quickly jabs its bill into the shell, cutting the muscles and then cleaning out contents. May also take a closed mussel and hammer it open. Probes in mud for clams and other items, and pries limpets off rocks.

Reproduction

Sometimes may mate for life. In courtship display, two birds walk and then run side by side, giving loud piping calls; may take off and fly together. Sometimes may form trios, with one male and two females attending one nest or two nearby nests. Site is on ground, on marsh island or among dunes, above high tide mark. Nest (apparently built by both sexes) is shallow scrape in sand, sometimes lined with pebbles, shells.

Photos by others

Credits

birds.audubon.org, planetofbirds.com, Wikipedia, Avibase