American Black Oystercatcher » purpleopurple.com

American Black Oystercatcher (Black Oystercatcher)

Common Name:	American Black Oystercatcher (Black Oystercatcher)
Scientific Name:	Haematopus bachmani
Family:	Haematopodidae
Order:	Charadriiformes
Size: Length:	17 to 17.7 in (43 to 45 cm)
Wingspan:	32.3 to 34 in (82 to 86 cm)
Weight:	0.6 to 0.8 kg (1.4 to 1.7 lb)

The key features of American Black Oystercatcher are, it is a large shorebird; yellow legs; deep red bill; pinkish legs; all-black plumage; sexes alike. Its habit is, they forage on rocky shores, looking down intently for food.

Their nests looks shallow scrape lined with bits of shell or pebbles; lays 1 to 4 eggs; incubation period is 24 to 33 days; young fledge after 40 days; 1 brood. American Black Oystercatcher sounds loud “whee-up” alarm call and soft flight call. It diets are mainly mollusks, crustaceans, marine worms and small fish.

American Black Oystercatcher habitats were on rocky shores; some winter in estuaries. They found across western seaboard of North America from Aleutian Island south to Baja California. Their status of population is not globally threatened.