Black Oystercatcher

The Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) is a conspicuous black bird found on the shoreline of western North America. It ranges from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska to the coast of the Baja California peninsula. The black oystercatcher is a species of high conservation concern throughout its range (U.S., Canadian, Alaskan, and Northern & Southern Pacific Shorebird Conservation Plans), a keystone indicator species along the north Pacific shoreline, a management indicator species in the Chugach National Forest, and a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service focal species for priority conservation action.

The black oystercatcher is a sizable shorebird that is totally black, with pink legs and a big, brilliant red bill. It features a red eye ring and a bright yellow iris. From north to south, its plumage varies little, becoming darker as it gets further north. Over most of its range, the black oystercatcher (Haematopodidae) is the only member of the family; on the Baja California coast, it partially overlaps with the American oystercatcher (H. palliatus). Although this name is also used locally for the blackish oystercatcher and the African oystercatcher, the term "black oystercatcher" is more frequently used within its range.