American Oystercatcher

Haematopus palliatus

The American oystercatcher, occasionally called the American pied oystercatcher, is a member of family Haematopodidae. Originally called the "sea pie", it was renamed in 1731 when naturalist Mark Catesby claimed that he had observed the bird eating oysters. The current population of American oystercatchers is estimated to be 50,000 – 99,999 mature individuals. There are estimated to be 1,500 breeding pairs along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the US. The bird is marked by its black and white body and a long, thick orange beak.

Select tracking region

Where are you looking?

Select a tracking region above to ping the eBird database and reveal live hotspots for the American Oystercatcher.

Low-Light Telephoto Systems

Identifying specific features of the American Oystercatcher requires high-contrast magnification. Check out the top-rated 8x42 optics.

View Pro Optics

Expedition Prep

Targeting the American Oystercatcher?

Build a custom travel itinerary around these hotpot clusters using our trip planning suite.

Open Planner