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An illustration based on the real animal.
A little discovery to share.
Eurasian oystercatchers sometimes nest on low roofs.
THE REAL WORLD
The real Eurasian oystercatcher
- Scientific name
- Haematopus ostralegus
- Japanese name
- ミヤコドリ
- Group
- Birds
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Haematopodidae
- Genus
- Haematopus
A waterbird that comes to Japan for the winter, though it can be seen in just a few places. It also spends the winter on Tokyo Bay.
Its English name means 'oyster catcher.' It slips its thin bill into the gap of a clam's shell and pries it open to eat.
On shores and in wetlands it feeds on clams, limpets, crabs, ragworms, starfish, sea urchins and more.
How the Eurasian oystercatcher lives
In the UK, they breed along almost all coasts. They nest on open ground or sometimes among short plants. From autumn, large groups can be seen along UK shores.
RSPBBasic data
- Size
- Total length: 40–45 cm
- Weight
- 450–650 g
- Diet
- Bivalves, limpets, crabs, marine worms, and echinoderms
- Range
- Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas, excluding high latitudes
Where the Eurasian oystercatcher has been recorded
Records: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY 4.0 records, retrieved 2026-11-07). Map: Natural EarthSee the records on GBIF
Watch wild animals from a distance. Do not touch or feed them, and take care of the places where they live.
Names around the world
- 日本語
- ミヤコドリ
- 简体中文
- 蛎鹬
- 繁體中文
- 蠣鷸
- 한국어
- 검은머리물떼새
- Español
- Ostrero euroasiático
- Français
- Huîtrier pie
- Deutsch
- Austernfischer
- Português (Brasil)
- Ostraceiro-europeu
- Italiano
- Beccaccia di mare
- العربية
- صائد المحار الأوراسي
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Kedidir eurasia
- Tiếng Việt
- Chim mò sò
- Русский
- Кулик-сорока
- Türkçe
- Bayağı poyraz kuşu
- বাংলা
- শুক্তিভোজী বাটান
Names come from Wikidata and iNaturalist records. Where a language has no recorded name, we use the scientific name.
Sources and how we check
- 上野動物園 — ミヤコドリChecked: 2026-11-03
- RSPB — OystercatcherChecked: 2026-11-07
We check each fact against its source. The illustrations simplify how the real animal looks.
The classification (class, order, family, genus) follows Wikidata records, checked against GBIF. Classifications can change as research goes on.
The basic data are the values given in each source. They vary with how the animal is measured, whether it is male or female, and whether it lives in the wild or in captivity.
This page was translated from the original Japanese with the help of AI.
Report a mistakeWhen you meet the Eurasian oystercatcher, look for this
- Look for the orange-red bill and reddish-pink legs.
- When it flies, look for the broad white stripe on its wings.
Animals do different things from day to day, so you may not always see this.
RSPBEXHIBIT INFORMATION
Places that keep or show the Eurasian oystercatcher
Zoos, aquariums and other places whose official websites say they keep or show this animal.
Displays can change with the animals’ health and the seasons. Check each facility’s official website before you go.
RELATIVES
Others in Charadriiformes
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