Bird guidePied Oystercatcher

Pied oystercatchers frequent sandy coastlines, where they feed mainly on bivalve molluscs , which are prised apart with their specially adapted bill.

⚠️VIC: Endangered; WA: Rare

At a glance

FamilyOystercatchers
SizeLarge
RarityCommon
HabitatSandy beaches, estuaries, rocky shores, tidal flats, and occasionally wet pasture close to the coast.
Best timeReported across most months in New South Wales, with no narrow seasonal peak.

Sounds

Sound sample
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Recorded by Romuald Mikusek

Range map

Range map

200approx hotspots
226279approx records
7states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Usually coastal, but sometimes found on wetter pastures close to the coast.

Behavior

It is a wading bird native to Australia and commonly found on its coastline . Pied oystercatchers are most commonly observed to feed in pairs, or small flocks, concentrating hunting efforts on a single area along shorelines of rocky beaches. They nest in shallow scrapes made in open areas near the shore and produce 2–3 eggs in a typical clutch .

Regional timing

Tasmania
Peak: October to February34,604 records
Western Australia
Peak: July to December28,499 records
Queensland
Peak: June to March41,107 records
Victoria
Peak: October to March50,225 records
New South Wales
Peak: August to March52,170 records
Northern Territory
Peak: July to October3,381 records
South Australia
Peak: October to January15,773 records
Australian Capital Territory
Peak: July to August134 records
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