About the American Oystercatcher
The American oystercatcher, occasionally called the American pied oystercatcher, is a member of family Haematopodidae. Originally called the "sea pie", it was renamed in 1731 when naturalist Mark Catesby claimed that he had observed the bird eating oysters. The current population of American oystercatchers is estimated to be 50,000 – 99,999 mature individuals. There are estimated to be 1,500 breeding pairs along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the US. The bird is marked by its black and white body and a long, thick orange beak.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) |
| Species | Haematopus palliatus |
| Species Codes | ameoys, AMOY |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the American Oystercatcher belong to?
The American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) belongs to the Oystercatchers family (Haematopodidae), in the order Charadriiformes.
How can I identify the American Oystercatcher?
The American oystercatcher, occasionally called the American pied oystercatcher, is a member of family Haematopodidae. Originally called the \"sea pie\", it was renamed in 1731 when naturalist Mark Catesby claimed that he had observed the bird eating oysters. The current population of American oysterc...
Where can I report a American Oystercatcher sighting?
You can log sightings of American Oystercatcher on eBird (ebird.org) using species code ameoys, or on iNaturalist.
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