Adult: An elegantly attired, slightly comical fellow in black hood and very dark upperparts. Red-rimmed yellow eye. Red bill is flat and heavy-duty, straight and long. White under-parts and legs. A white wing stripe and white rump are visible in flight. Usually found in small groups. Oystercatchers are noisy during flight.

Immature: First year young has dark-tipped orange-brown bill. Plumage on back has scaled appearance.

Habitat: Spoil islands in estuaries and Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Shell bars, coastal beaches and salt marshes.

A Florida Resident, the Oystercatcher raises its young during March through July.

Text by Mary Jean Rogers, West Volusia Audubon.