Name:
Oystercatcher
Did you know:
Despite the name they rarely eat oysters
Found:
Coastline
Length:
42cm
Weight:
540g
Lifespan:
12 years
More Info:
A common wader of coastal estuaries and mudflats, it is a large black and white bird that has a striking long, orange bill, ruby eyes and pink legs. The oystercatcher feeds on shellfish, which it may prise open with its powerful bill or hammer open, it also probes for worms on tidal mudflats. The oystercatcher is one of the noisiest birds in the estuary environment, and can often be heard giving a shrill “kleep, kleeeep” call.
External Links:
Oystercatcher on the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) website
Oystercatcher on the BBC website