Oystercatcher in Flight

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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: 5184px × 3456px
Location: Iona
Photo credit: © TomsPhotos / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: bay., bird, birds, breeding, coastal, coasts, estuaries, feathers, haematopodidae, haematopus, history, large, major, morecambe, natural, nature, numbers, ostralegus, oystercatcher, reserves., rspb, sea, shore, summer, uk, uk., wildlife, winter