American Oystercatcher
Haematopus bachmani
We find the American Oystercatchers in North America along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts in the east, and on the Pacific coast of Mexico. In South America they live on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, south of the equator.
Oystercatchers make a living scouring rocky shorelines for mostly invertebrate prey. Mollusks comprise the greater portion of their food. Their bills are especially effective at prying univalves from the surface of the marine rocks, and from opening the shels of bivalves. The first European to report these birds to science was Mark Catesby in 1731 (read of him <Here>), when he saw one of these birds foraging on oysters; hence the name.
On my trip to the Revillagigedos I had my best chance to meet this bird, but I only saw my first one at a distance. I had better meetings with American-Black Oystercatcher hybrids, which look mostly like this bird, but with black feathers “dripping” onto the white breast. Then in March 2020, while aboard another boat, this time looking for Whooping Cranes, I met another. I’m still unsatisfied with my images of this bird. Maybe someday I’ll get another opportunity and get better results. [PS: In February 2021 I met these birds under better conditions in Texas]

Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
Description: The lack black "drips" from the dark bib onto the white belly show this bird is a pure bred American Oystercatcher. Our first landing on our way to the Archipielago de Revillagigedo was at Isla San Rogue, a seemingly barren rock of an island near the central coast of Baja California. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:11 12:49 |
Location:
Isla Asunción |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/5000 |
File Name: AmericanOysterCatcher_D5X5006 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Oystercatcher(Haematopus palliatus) |
Description: Oystercatcher on the oyster shoal. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captian Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 11:51 |
Location:
Aransas NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: AmericanOystercatcher_D504083-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Oystercatcher(Haematopus palliatus) |
Description: One of these birds was wearing jewelry at Bahia Grande. For my final winter expedition from my Brownsville camp, I chose South Padre Island. The drive to the island crosses Bahia Grande, where I stopped to look for waders, gulls and shorebirds. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:11 8:30 |
Location:
Bahia Grande |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: AmericanOystercatcher_D5X1492-BahiaGrande |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Oystercatcher(Haematopus palliatus) |
Description: One of these birds was wearing jewelry at Bahia Grande. For my final winter expedition from my Brownsville camp, I chose South Padre Island. The drive to the island crosses Bahia Grande, where I stopped to look for waders, gulls and shorebirds. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:11 8:28 |
Location:
Bahia Grande |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: AmericanOystercatcher_D5X1458-BahiaGrande |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Oystercatcher(Haematopus palliatus) |
Description: One of these birds was wearing jewelry at Bahia Grande. For my final winter expedition from my Brownsville camp, I chose South Padre Island. The drive to the island crosses Bahia Grande, where I stopped to look for waders, gulls and shorebirds. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:11 8:26 |
Location:
Bahia Grande |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: AmericanOystercatcher_D5X1398-BahiaGrande |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Oystercatcher(Haematopus palliatus) |
Description: One of these birds was wearing jewelry at Bahia Grande. For my final winter expedition from my Brownsville camp, I chose South Padre Island. The drive to the island crosses Bahia Grande, where I stopped to look for waders, gulls and shorebirds. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:11 8:26 |
Location:
Bahia Grande |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: AmericanOystercatcher_D5X1384-BahiaGrande |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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