American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliates)
American Oystercatcher. Courtesy of Jeanette Larson.
Readily identifiable by its bright orange beak and red-yellow eyes, the American Oystercatcher is a rather large shorebird. Their height is about 17 to 20 inches, and they may be confused with Black Skimmers, which also feature a reddish beak. As the name implies, their primary diet is oysters, although they will eat other shellfish and soft creatures. Because they have such a specialized diet, they are found primarily in a narrow band along the ocean coasts from New England to Texas, bobbing along the shoreline looking for food. They are the only birds in their ecosystem capable of cracking open oyster shells. Unfortunately, they sometimes don’t win their fight with an oyster, facing danger when the oyster clamps down on their beak and holds firm. During their first year, adults teach their young to catch oysters by either snipping or smashing. Snipping involves cutting the oyster’s powerful adductor muscle, which holds the two shell halves together. If the shell is closed, the bird may poke a hole in the shell and then cut the adductor.
American Oystercatcher with fish. Courtesy Jeanette Larson.
They are monogamous, often staying with the same mate for years. Their spring mating is boisterous, and their mating display includes a quick pacing dance across the sand. Once eggs are laid, Oystercatchers may mix in with a colony of terns, skimmers, or pelicans. They live for many years, with longevity records of 25-30 years. A group is called a parcel.
They are ground nesters, often digging out a nest in sand or rocks along the beach. A clutch consists of 2-4 eggs, and there is only one brood per year. Both parents sit on the eggs and rear the young. Rocks and bits of shell may be added to the nest to disguise the eggs. Although the nest is well hidden, the eggs are still prey to raccoons, gulls, and rats. Like the Killdeer, the Oystercatcher may feign injury to distract a predator from the nest. Population can vary widely from year to year, especially as the young may stay away from their natal area for a year or two. The population is considered small (43,000) but stable. Unlike other shorebirds, most Oystercatchers stay in the same area year round and, if they migrate, may only go a short distance. Port Aransas and Rockport Beach are good places to see Oystercatchers year-round.
American Oystercatcher chicks. Public domain.
Compiled by Jeanette Larson. Sources include All About Birds, American Bird Conservancy, and Texas Parks and Wildlife. Photos by Jeanette Larson and in public domain.
