Wildlifeof China
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Shorebirds
Photo: Christoph Moning · CC BY 4.0
Haematopus ostralegus
Basic stats
Diet
Molluscs such as mussels, and earthworms
Habitat
Flat lowland plains below 200m with short vegetation, close to water
Range
Four subspecies breed in western Europe, central Eurosiberia, Kamchatka, China and the western coast of Korea
Clutch size
2–4 eggs
Size
40–45cm
Wingspan
80–85cm
The Eurasian oystercatcher is an obvious, noisy, plover-like bird 40–45cm long with a wingspan of 80–85cm, with striking black and white plumage, pink legs, red eyes and a strong, straight, orange-red bill 8–9cm long, used for smashing or prising open molluscs such as mussels or for finding earthworms. The sexes are similar but the female's bill is longer. The winter plumage has a white throat collar (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is the most widespread oystercatcher, with four subspecies breeding in western Europe, central Eurosiberia, Kamchatka, China and the western coast of Korea. It is commonly found in flat lowland plains below 200m with short vegetation and close to water, and lays two to four eggs (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Eurasian Oystercatcher eat?
- Molluscs such as mussels, and earthworms
- What habitat does the Eurasian Oystercatcher live in?
- Flat lowland plains below 200m with short vegetation, close to water
- Where is the Eurasian Oystercatcher found?
- Four subspecies breed in western Europe, central Eurosiberia, Kamchatka, China and the western coast of Korea
- How many eggs does the Eurasian Oystercatcher lay?
- 2–4 eggs
- How big is the Eurasian Oystercatcher?
- 40–45cm
- What is the wingspan of the Eurasian Oystercatcher?
- 80–85cm