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Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Charadriiformes
Family:
Haematopodidae
BTO Codes:
OC , OYSTE
EURING No:
4500
Number in Britain:
113 thousand pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
AMBER
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
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Status in UK:
(A) Migrant/Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
ostralegus recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
42 cm
Wingspan:
83 cm
Weight:
M/F: 540 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: haima =blood + pous =foot
and L.: ostrea =oyster + legere =to lift
World Distribution:
BREEDS: coasts of Europe & n Asia, WINTERS: south to s Africa & s Asia
Habitat:
Sandy, muddy, rocky beaches
Diet:
Predominantly bivalves esp cockles, mussels, tellins Macoma , earthworms when young
TitBit:
Individuals specialise by either hammering their bivalve prey through the shell (these birds have short, blunt bills), or prising the two shells apart (these have longer pointed bills)
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
99 to 127 thousand pairs
in 1985-98
Winter:
315 thousand individuals
in 1994-99
First Record:
1537
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Estuaries
Also common in:
Open Shore
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
293 to 425 thousand pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WBD(II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
57 x 40 mm
Egg Weight:
46.5 g (of which 7 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
555
Clutch Size:
2 - 3 eggs
2.70 ± 0.69 (1 - 5) N = 3547
Incubation:
24 - 27 days
by the:
Male + Female
Fledging:
34 - 37 days
as:
Precocial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
19 May (15 Apr - 9 Jun)
Number of Broods:
1
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
2999
Adult Survival:
0.88
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
4
years
Typical Lifespan:
12
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
36yr2m
(Germany: 43yr 4m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
F
Wing Length
Adult:
263.4 ± 7.5
Range
251 - 275 mm, N =8270
Juvenile:
258.2 ± 7.0
247 - 269 mm, N =1494
Male:
263.4 ± 6.4
253 - 274 mm, N =146
Female:
264.3 ± 7.8
251 - 278 mm, N =177
Weight
Adult:
546.2 ± 83.67
Range
465.0 - 640.0 g , N =8253
Juvenile:
496.3 ± 52.04
410.0 - 580.0 g , N =1473
Male:
543.6 ± 51.10
465.0 - 632.0 g , N =147
Female:
548.6 ± 56.89 .
452.0 - 657.0 g , N =175
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Gaelic:
Gille-Brìghde
Welsh:
Pioden y Môr
Danish:
Strandskade
Dutch:
Scholekster
Finnish:
Meriharakka
French:
Huîtrier pie
German:
Austernfischer
Hungarian:
Csigaforgató
Icelandic:
Tjaldur
Irish:
Roilleach
Italian:
Beccaccia di mare
Norwegian:
Tjeld
Polish:
Ostrygojad zwyczajny
Portuguese:
Ostraceiro
Spanish:
Ostrero
Swedish:
Strandskata
Local Names: Shelder, Sea Pie,
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Goss-Custard, J.D. 1996 The oystercatcher: from individuals to populations Oxford University Press, Oxford
[598.612 GOS]
Nethersole-Thompson, D. & M. 1986 Waders, their breeding, haunts and watchers Poyser, London
[598.6 NET]
Nethersole-Thompson, D. 1988 The Oystercatcher Shire Publications, Princes Risborough
[Jour: S]
See Also:
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
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