Single Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus nesting on shoreline

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The oystercatcher is a large, stocky, black and white wading bird. It has a long, orange-red bill and reddish-pink legs. In flight, it shows a wide white wing-stripe, a black tail, and a white rump that extends as a 'V' between the wings. Because it eats cockles, the population is vulnerable if cockle beds are overexploited. Breeds on almost all UK coasts; over the last 50 years, more birds have started breeding inland. Most UK birds spend the winter on the coast; where they are joined on the east coast by birds from Norway.

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Size: 5318px × 3489px
Location: Norfolk England UK
Photo credit: © Ernie Janes / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: bill, bills, bird, birds, black, brood, common, eurasian, family, haematopodidae, incubating, large, long, molluscs, nest, noisy, oystercatcher, pie, pied, plover-, red, resident, sea, shingle, shore, striking, wader, wading, white