Eurasian Oystercatcher

Habitat: Mainly coastal areas, but also inland on grasslands and fields. Outside the breeding season, found in groups.

Appearance: Widespread coastal bird in Europe, resident in the north and west. Forms large groups in winter. Numerous breeding birds in Belgium and the Netherlands – year-round resident – migrant and winter visitor in large numbers.

Breeding season: April to July, ground nest – the nest is located on a sandbank above the high-water line, in grasslands, on fields, etc. Usually, the nest is no more than a scratched-out hollow, though sometimes it is decorated with shells or withered leaves. Oystercatchers are not colonial breeders. Both parents take turns incubating, 3 eggs.

Characteristics: Length 39 – 44 cm, wingspan 72 – 86 cm, weight 425 – 480 grams, average age 12 years, but some specimens have been known to live to over 43 years.

Food: Oystercatchers eat small creatures that live on the beach and in the grassland soil. They peck at shellfish with their narrow, sharp beaks to break the closing muscle before they can close. Sometimes the shellfish is faster and clamps the beak closed. The bird then drags the shellfish along until it opens again from exhaustion.