Pied Oystercatcher or Eurasian Oystercatcher, (Haematopus ostralegus), Snettisham RSPB Reserve, Norfolk, United Kingdom, British Isles


The oystercatcher is one of the largest waders in the region. It is 40–45 cm (16–18 in) long, the bill accounting for 8–9 cm (– in), and has a wing-span of 80–85 cm (31–33 in).They are obvious and noisy plover-like birds, with black and white plumage, red legs and strong broad red bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs such as mussels or for finding its name, oysters do not form a large part of its diet. The bird still lives up to its name, as few if any other wading birds are capable of opening oysters at all.


Size: 5282px × 3612px
Location: Snettisham Beach, King's Lynn, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © Dominic Robinson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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