Oystercatcher  (Haematopus ostralegus)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Range

Originally, the oystercatcher was mainly a coastal species in Britain; it is still found around the coastline, but between 1974 and 1986 it increasingly colonised inland waterways, particularly in Scotland and northern England (6). During winter, resident birds are joined by immigrants from Iceland, Norway and the Faeroe Islands (4). It also occurs around the coasts of northern and western Europe, patchily around the Mediterranean and parts of the coast of eastern Asia, as well as inland from the Caspian Sea towards central Asia (5).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

Occurs in estuaries, on rocky, sandy and muddy shores, as well as along the banks of rivers, lakes (5) and gravel pits (7).

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