eyeing a mussel; large orange bill; pink legs, feet (Norway; 2009-05-26)


Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegus

Native Range: Eurasia

Notes: a common and unmistakable bird of rocky and muddy shorelines; does indeed "catch oysters"; no sexual dimorphism.

black head, upperparts; much white below (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-14)
bold black-and-white pattern in flight (Norway; 2009-05-26)

bill can look yellowish depending on the light (Norway; 2009-05-26)
searching for food among macro-algae (Norway; 2009-05-26)

small flock on an oyster bed (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-14) 		larger flock on a muddy shoreline (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-14)
holding a yummy morsel; note the red iris, eye-ring (Norway; 2009-05-26)