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American Oystercatcher
This shorebird is a shellfish specialist.
© Grigory Heaton
American Oystercatchers are crow-sized shorebirds that can be found foraging in intertidal zones along the U.S. Atlantic shoreline and both coasts of Central and South America. Their bodies are mostly black and white, except for bright yellow eyes and a long, orange bill. Sadly, researchers estimate that between 1970 and 2023, American Oystercatchers lost roughly half their population to habitat degradation, human disturbance, and predation by mammals. We can protect shorebirds by giving them space on shared beaches, keeping domestic pets indoors or on leash, and cutting fossil fuel emissions that drive climate change.
This episode is dedicated to Bob Goodale whose lifelong love for birds and nature continues to inspire.
BirdNote®
American Oystercatcher
Written by Ariana Remmel
This is BirdNote.
[American Oystercatchers]
As the tides fall in Cape May, New Jersey, these American Oystercatchers are living up to their name. The crow-sized shorebirds are mostly black and white, except for bright yellow eyes and a long, orange bill.
[American Oystercatcher]
American Oystercatchers are shellfish specialists that can be found foraging in intertidal zones along the US Atlantic shoreline and both coasts of Central and South America. Their unmistakable bills allow them to smash up and scarf down oysters, clams, and other bivalves — attracting the attention of birders and mollusk-mooching seabirds.
[American Oystercatcher]
Sadly, researchers estimate that between 1970 and 2023, American Oystercatchers lost roughly half their population to habitat degradation, human disturbance, and predation by mammals — like coyotes, racoons, and domestic cats.
We can all do our part to conserve American Oystercatchers by giving them space on shared beaches, keeping domestic pets indoors or on leash, and cutting fossil fuel emissions that drive climate change.
[American Oystercatcher]
You’ll find more actions you can take to protect birds at our website BirdNote.org. I’m Ariana Remmel.
This episode is dedicated to Bob Goodale whose lifelong love for birds and nature continues to inspire.
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Senior Producer: Mark Bramhill
Producer: Sam Johnson
Managing Producer: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Ariana Remmel
Content Director: Jonese Franklin
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. American Oystercatchers ML63003121 recorded by Tom Johnson, American Oystercatcher ML167935111 recorded by Parker Davis.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2026 BirdNote June 2026
Narrator: Ariana Remmel
ID# AMOY-01-2026-06-15 AMOY-01
Reference:
https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/ameoys/cur/introduction
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Oystercatcher/overview
Ariana Remmel
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