The American Oystercatcher is a bold, unmistakable shorebird with a brilliant orange-red bill used as a chisel and knife to open bivalves. It can insert its laterally flattened bill between a slightly open oyster shell and sever the adductor muscle before the shell snaps shut. Its loud, piping calls carry above surf noise along rocky and sandy coasts.
Best time to see a American Oystercatcher
The best time to see a American Oystercatcher is March–July, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 13,854 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent American Oystercatcher sightings near you
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