The Pied Oystercatcher is a wading bird native to Australia and found commonly around the coastline. Other species of Oystercatchers include the Eurasian Oystercatcher, the American Oystercatcher and the African Black Oystercatcher.
This Australian species is easily recognized by the characteristic 5–8 cm long orange-red beak, slender pink legs and black and white plumage.
Pied Oystercatchers frequent sandy coastlines, where they feed mainly on bivalve molluscs, which are prised apart with their specially adapted bill. The name "oystercatcher" is something of a misnomer for this species, because they seldom eat oysters, which are found mainly on rocky coastlines. The techniques they use to break open the shells of the molluscs vary greatly and are thought to be learned behaviour. Pied Oystercatchers also take other invertebrates.
Haematopus longirostris nest in shallow scrapes made in open areas near the shore and produce 2–3 eggs in a typical clutch. Each couple protects its nesting area and often uses the same area year after year. Like the gulls they share the shore with, Pied Oystercatchers will band together to mob a perceived threat.
A nice bit of paired Pied Oystercatcher footage here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lNlDEKvDyY
[All text: Ref (128)]
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