Species Guide: Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus Ostralegus)
Family: Haematopodidae
The Eurasian Oystercatcher is a striking and unmistakable shorebird found along coasts, estuaries, and inland waterways across Europe, parts of Asia, and North Africa. Despite its name, it rarely eats oysters. Instead, it is a versatile feeder well-adapted to different environments. With its bold black-and-white plumage, long red bill, and loud calls, it is one of the most recognizable waders in its range.
Appearance
The Oystercatcher is a large, robust wader, measuring about 40–45 cm in length with a wingspan of 80–86 cm. Its plumage is sharply contrasting, with black upperparts and head, and bright white underparts. The bill is long, straight, and bright orange-red, designed for prising open shellfish or probing for worms. Its legs are also reddish-pink, and its eyes are strikingly red with a narrow orange orbital ring.
In flight, it shows a bold white wing bar and a white rump leading into a black tail band.
Diet
The species’ diet varies by habitat. Along rocky shores, Oystercatchers specialize in mollusks such as mussels, cockles, and limpets, using their powerful bills either to hammer shells or prise them open. On sandy or estuarine mudflats, they switch to probing for marine worms, crustaceans, and small invertebrates. Inland populations often feed on earthworms and insects. This adaptability allows them to thrive in diverse environments.
Habitat
Eurasian Oystercatchers are widespread across the coasts of northern and western Europe, including the British Isles, Scandinavia, and the Netherlands. Their breeding range extends inland to river valleys, meadows, and even agricultural fields. Northern populations migrate south in winter, reaching the Mediterranean, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. Coastal estuaries and tidal mudflats serve as vital wintering grounds, providing rich feeding opportunities.
Map provided as an indicative only illustration of geographic distribution based on geopolitical areas1
Behavior
Oystercatchers are highly vocal birds, often recognized by their loud, piping “kleep-kleep” calls, which carry over long distances and are used for communication, alarm, and territorial defense. They are strongly territorial during the breeding season, with pairs aggressively defending nesting sites.
Breeding usually occurs from April to July. Nests are simple scrapes in sand, shingle, or soil, sometimes lined with shells or pebbles. Clutches typically contain 2–3 eggs, which both parents incubate for about 24–27 days. The chicks are precocial, leaving the nest within hours of hatching, but remain dependent on parents for food guidance until fledging at around 5 weeks.
Outside the breeding season, Oystercatchers often form large flocks, sometimes numbering in the thousands, especially at coastal roosting sites.
Biometrics2
| Wing Length | 252-275 mm |
| Body Weight | 465-640 grams |
| Longevity | 12 Years |
Ad Space
Natural Predators
Despite their vigilance and loud alarm calls, Oystercatchers face several natural predators. Eggs and chicks are especially vulnerable, often taken by gulls, crows, stoats, foxes, and rats. Wading through exposed shorelines, they are also at risk from birds of prey such as peregrine falcons. Adult Oystercatchers, however, are strong fliers and generally less vulnerable, relying on their sharp calls, aggressive defense, and flocking behavior to deter would-be attackers.
Conservation Status
The Eurasian Oystercatcher it is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List from a global viewpoint and Vulnerable from a European viewpoint. Populations have shown declines in several regions due to habitat loss, disturbance from human activities, and reduced availability of prey caused by shellfish harvesting and changes in coastal ecosystems. Conservation efforts include habitat protection, sustainable shellfishery management, and monitoring of breeding populations. Despite pressures, the species remains widespread and is a familiar presence along many European coastlines.
U.K.
Conservation Status
Global
Conservation Status
Ad Space
CITATIONS
- Avibase – The World Bird Database [Accessed 04/10/2025] ↩︎
- British Trust for Ornithology [Accessed 11/09/2025] ↩︎
References
- Message, S. and Taylor, D. (2016) Waders of Europe, Asia and North America. 1st ed. London, [England: Christopher Helm. [Accessed 11/09/2025]
