American Oystercatcher
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Scientific Name:
Haematopus palliatus Native
Description
Black head, neck, back, and flight feathers, constrasting with white belly and white patches on wings and tail. Long, reddish-orange bill. Long flesh colored legs. About 1 and 1/2 feet tall.
Range and Habitat
Found on the Atlantic coast from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Yucatan, Mexico as well as the Caribbean, Bahamas, Pureto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Brazil to Argentina; on the Pacific coast from the Gulf of California to Panama as well as Peru and Chile. Prefers remote and uninhabitated sandy beaches, coastal salt marshes, and tidal flats, particularly along the Atlantic.
Behavior
Eats saltwater mollusks, crabs, and marine worms. Able to reproduce at 3 to 4 years of age. Nests consist of a small depression scratched away in the ground, sometimes decorated with shells.
Population Status
Ranked as S1 (critically imperiled) in Louisiana. Threats to population include habitat loss due to manmade and natural factors at nesting areas, including increased nest predation and relative sea level rise.
More Information/References