American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliates
American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliates
Solitary or in family groups in summer months, it may gather in large flocks during the winter. This very large shorebird of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and tidal flats feeds mostly on shellfish of mostly clams, mussels and oysters also sand crabs, sea urchins and jellyfish. It opens shellfish by simply hammering its shell with its large, straight red bill or by jabbing its bill into the bi-halves and cutting its muscles.Although numbers had a serious decline in the 19th century, they had recovered in the 20th century and currently doing well despite interference of their beach habitats.Copyright Mark Tiefenbach
Deepbrook Nature Photography
Copyright Mark Tiefenbach
Deepbrook Nature Photography
