Birds · Charadriiformes · Haematopodidae

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

One of the largest and most striking waders in Europe, boldly plumaged in black and white: head, breast and upperparts black, underparts white. Its legs are red and its long, straight, sturdy bill, also red, accounts for 8 to 9 cm of its total length and is flattened at the sides.

Weight

480 g on average

Size

40 cm – 45 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

Carnivore Diurnal Near Threatened Bird

58countries 71parks4same family

Fun facts

alimentaciónIt has a stout chisel-shaped bill it uses to open mussels and other bivalves, either hammering them or slipping the bill between half-open shells.
Despite its name, oysters are not an important part of its diet, though it is among the very few birds able to open their shells.
It is the most widely distributed oystercatcher in the world.
Its scientific name means literally 'blood feet', from the Greek haima, blood, and pous, foot, after the intense red of its legs.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Sandy and muddy coastal habitats of Eurasia and Africa, where it probes the substrate for molluscs and worms
Sexual maturity: 3 years

Sources consulted: IUCN Red List; Asturnatura; Wikipedia (Haematopus ostralegus); Lee et al. 2017, Mitochondrial DNA Part B (genoma mitocondrial completo); Linnaeus 1758