(Immature and flight photos. Distribution & Behaviour expanded.) |
(id, caption) |
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*Red legs | *Red legs | ||
*Strong broad red bill | *Strong broad red bill | ||
| + | *Winter - white band across the throat interrupting the otherwise black neck | ||
*Juvenile - brown with white neck band and dull bill. | *Juvenile - brown with white neck band and dull bill. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| Line 23: | Line 24: | ||
Beaches and coast in winter. Breeds in upload grassy areas. | Beaches and coast in winter. Breeds in upload grassy areas. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | [[Image:Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus sun.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Reels|Reels}}<br />Edinburgh, [[Scotland]], 2010]] | + | [[Image:Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus sun.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Likely winter plumage, notice the white neck band<br />Photo by {{user|Reels|Reels}}<br />Edinburgh, [[Scotland]], 2010]] |
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
The diet includes molluscs, mussels and earthworms. | The diet includes molluscs, mussels and earthworms. | ||
Revision as of 00:58, 3 April 2013
- Haematopus ostralegus
Identification
- Black above
- White below
- White wing and tail patches
- Red legs
- Strong broad red bill
- Winter - white band across the throat interrupting the otherwise black neck
- Juvenile - brown with white neck band and dull bill.
Distribution
Widespread throughout Eurasia and Africa.
Rare migrant on Greenland. Accidental vagrant to Newfoundland (several records).
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 3 subspecies[1]:
- H. o. ostralegus - Iceland and Scandinavia to south Europe; winters to Africa
- H. o. longipes - Russia to Siberia and south to Caspian Sea and Aral Sea
- H. o. osculans - Kamchatka Peninsula and North Korea; winters east China
Habitat
Beaches and coast in winter. Breeds in upload grassy areas.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes molluscs, mussels and earthworms.
Breeding
They nest in a scrape on pebbles which may be on the coast, riverside or in grassy fields and even upland moors. The clutch consists of 2-4 eggs which are coloured buff to yellow possibly with a greenish tint; there are variable markings of streaks and spots from greyish to black.
There is a single clutch, usually in May.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Haematopus ostralegus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Wikipedia
- Observers Book of Birds Eggs
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Eurasian Oystercatcher. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 6 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Eurasian_Oystercatcher
External Links
