Black Oystercatcher
Haematopus bachmani
DescriptionUnlike the American Oystercatcher, the Black Oystercatcher prefers rocky coasts, where it feeds on a variety of marine life, except oysters! Actually, they will eat oysters, but not to the extent they eat other marine life, such as invertebrates, especially mussels, worms, echinoderms; also fish, crabs, barnacles and limpets. Especially those that cling to rocks below the high-tide line.
Entirely black plumage. Long, thick, bright orange bill. Yellow eye surrounded by orange orbital ring. Pale pink legs. Sexes similar. Juveniles have browner plumage and a dark bill tip. 17 to 17.5 inches in length.
Rocky shorelines.
Nesting2-3 olive-buff colored eggs with brown-black blotches. The eggs have a 24-29 day incubation period. Fledging occurs at 35+ days. The nest is a shallow ground depression or hollow, amoung pebbles, on a beach.
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