sooty oystercatcher

The sooty oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus) is a shorebird belonging to the genus Haematopus. These stout-bodied birds are typically 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 inches) long and are characterized by their long, flattened, orange-red bills and thick, pinkish legs. Their plumage is generally dark, ranging from black and white to entirely black. Oystercatchers primarily feed on mollusks, using their specialized bills to pry open or hammer through the shells of oysters, clams, and mussels, especially when exposed at low tide. They build their nests on the ground, typically laying two to four eggs in the sand. The sooty oystercatcher is found in Australia.1