Black Oystercatcher

Haematopus bachmani

Black Oystercatcher

Haematopus bachmani

Other Common Names
American black oystercatcher

Seabird Aviary

Other Common Names

American black oystercatcher

At the Aquarium

Seabird Aviary

Appearance

The black oystercatcher is a stocky bird with mostly black or black-brown coloring. This makes it difficult to spot against dark rocks along the Pacific Coast. The black oystercatcher has a long bright red-orange bill and yellow eyes ringed with red. Their legs and feet are pale pink. Juveniles are more brown and have a dark-tipped red bill. Black oystercatchers grow to lengths of about 17.5 inches with a wingspan of 30-35 inches.

They are able to use their bill to forage on shellfish by smashing or prying open the shells.

Habitat

Rocky shores

Diet

Marine worms and molluscs, especially mussels and limpets.

Life History

During the nonbreeding season black oystercatchers may gather in groups of tens or even hundreds. During breeding season pairs disperse along their habitat. Breeding individuals tend to return to the same nesting territories every year. They nest on islands, headlands, and beaches. Nests are built by both males and females, who line them with pebbles and shells.

Black oystercatcher pairs often perform a display where they run side by side with their heads down and bills pointing forward. This behavior is done to greet mates or threaten intruders.

During breeding season this bird lays 1 to 4 pale, olive green eggs with brown and black spots. Both males and females sit on the eggs. The incubation period lasts 24 to 36 days. Young black oystercatchers leave the nest soon after hatching and their first flight usually occurs after 30-35 days.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Black oystercatchers act as an indicator of intertidal ecosystem health. They are considered a “species of high conservation concern” due to their small population size, restricted range and vulnerability to human disturbance, especially in nesting areas.

Along the Pacific Coast from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to Baja California, Mexico.

Black oystercatchers inhabit rocky shores along the Oregon Coast. You may see them foraging during low tides when their prey is more exposed. Nesting pairs are very territorial which explains why only one breeding pair usually lives at Haystack Rock.

Despite its name, the black oystercatcher rarely eats oysters, because oysters are not in most of its habitat.

Citations & Other Resources

Alsop, F. 2001. Birds of North America (1st American ed.). DK.
Weinstein, A., L. Trocki, R. Levalley, R. Doster, T. Distler, and K. Krieger. 2014. A First Population Assessment of Black Oystercatcher Haematopus Bachmani in California. Marine Ornithology, 42(1), 49–56. https://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.42.1.1061
Cornell Lab of Ornithology. N.d. Black Oystercatcher. All About Birds.
Friends of Haystack Rock. N.d. Black Oystercatchers.
Bird Alliance of Oregon. N.d. Oregon Black Oystercatcher Project.

Black Oystercatcher

Black Oystercatcher

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

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