American Oystercatcher Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Black Oystercatcher
Adult
Black Oystercatchers have a dark belly whereas American Oystercatchers have a white belly. Also note range differences.
© Joshua Covill | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, March 23, 2017Similar Species
Black Skimmer
Breeding adult
Black Skimmers are found in similar habitats and have a large red bill, but they have tiny legs and a longer body than American Oystercatchers. Skimmers also have a black tip to its oddly shaped bill that oystercatchers lack.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 16, 2014Main Species
American Oystercatcher
Adult
Large and chunky shorebird with a bright red bill and yellow eye.
© Dorian Anderson | Macaulay LibraryNew York, August 06, 2019Juvenile
Chunky shorebird. Juveniles are duller than adults with a dark-tipped bill.
© Michiel Oversteegen | Macaulay LibraryAruba, July 04, 2020Adult
Males and females incubate eggs laid in a small scrape on the ground.
© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, June 18, 2010Not all videos have sound
Adult
In flight, note white wing and tail stripe. Flying birds often give piercing calls.
© Brandon Nidiffer | Macaulay LibraryTexas, May 24, 2019Adult
Conspicuous shorebird with a bright red bill and yellow eye.
© Alix d'Entremont | Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, May 03, 2014Adult
Walks or runs along beaches and rocky shorelines.
© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, July 12, 2010Not all videos have sound
Adult
Courting birds walk side by side giving single piping notes with their outstretched necks bobbing up and down.
© Susan Teefy | Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, June 15, 2017Adult
Nests on the ground on sand dunes, marsh islands, or oyster shell mounds.
© Rob Bierregaard | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 23, 2017Adult
Found along beaches, rocky shorelines, and mudflats.
© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, July 01, 2010Not all videos have sound
Habitat
Found in coastal habitats including sand or shell beaches, dunes, saltmarsh, marsh islands, mudflats, and dredge spoil islands made of sand or gravel.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 06, 2014Adult
Forages for aquatic invertebrates hiding in cracks of rocks. This video has no audio.
© Tim Laman | Macaulay LibraryGalápagos, May 21, 2010Not all videos have sound
Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.