Pied Oystercatcher

Overview

The pied oystercatcher is a wading bird native to Australia and commonly found on its coastline. It belongs to the oystercatcher family, with a similar relative, the South Island pied oystercatcher, found in New Zealand.

Identification

• Characteristic 5–8 cm long orange-red beak.
• Slender pink legs.
• Black and white plumage with a white wing-stripe visible when wings are extended.
• Males generally have a shorter, wider beak than females.

Habitat

This species is native to Australia and is commonly found on the coastline, with a preference for sandy areas where bivalve molluscs are abundant. They nest in shallow scrapes made in open areas near the shore and often reuse the same nesting sites year after year.

Diet

Despite the name, they seldom eat oysters and instead feed mainly on bivalve molluscs such as Paphies elongata and Mactra rufescens, as well as other invertebrates. They use specially adapted bills to pry apart shells and sever them to reach the edible flesh inside.

Did you know?

The name 'oystercatcher' is a misnomer for this species because they seldom eat oysters, which are found mainly on rocky coastlines, whereas pied oystercatchers frequent sandy coastlines. The techniques they use to break open shells vary greatly and are thought to be learned behaviours.