Black Oystercatcher

Haematopus bachmani

Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.

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Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

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Birds of Canada Birds of Mexico Birds of the United States Birds of British Columbia Birds of Alaska Birds of California Birds of Oregon Birds of Washington

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The Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) is a member of the Haematopodidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 582 g.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Haematopodidae Oystercatchers
Genus Haematopus
Species bachmani

Where it lives

Coastal eastern North Pacific from western Aleutian Is. to west-central Baja California (northwestern Mexico)

Quick facts

Weight: 582 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Haematopodidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Black Oystercatcher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Black Oystercatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) belongs to the Haematopodidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA coastal e North Pacific from w Aleutian Is. to wc Baja California (nw Mexico).

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 582 g, with a wing length of about 24.7 cm and a tail of around 9.9 cm.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 259,000 km².

Songs & calls

Black Oystercatcher — Call

Recorded by Barry Edmonston Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Black Oystercatcher?

The Black Oystercatcher is a large bird that weighs around 582 g.

Where does the Black Oystercatcher live?

The Black Oystercatcher is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA coastal e North Pacific from w Aleutian Is. to wc Baja California (nw Mexico), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Black Oystercatcher belong to?

The Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) belongs to the Haematopodidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Black Oystercatcher eat?

The Black Oystercatcher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Black Oystercatcher migrate?

The Black Oystercatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

What sound does the Black Oystercatcher make?

1 real field recording of the Black Oystercatcher — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Black Oystercatcher's range?

The Black Oystercatcher has a mapped global range of about 259,000 km².