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Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegus
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About the Eurasian Oystercatcher
The Eurasian oystercatcher or European oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), also known as the common pied oystercatcher, or (in Europe) just oystercatcher, is a wader in the oystercatcher bird family Haematopodidae. It has striking black and white plumage, a long straight orange-red bill, red eyes and relatively short dull pink legs. The sexes are similar in appearance but the bill of the female is longer than that of the male. It is the most widespread of the oystercatchers, with four subspecies breeding in western Europe, central Eurosiberia, Kamchatka, China, and the western coast of Korea. No other oystercatcher occurs within this area.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Haematopus ostralegus
- Family
- Oystercatchers
- Order
- Charadriiformes
Similar species
Other members of the oystercatchers family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
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