Black OystercatcherHaematopus bachmani, commonly known as the Black Oystercatcher, is a large coastal shorebird. It is about the size of a crow, with the average height being about 17 inches. Females are generally larger than males. The bird's feathers are completely black, however, black oystercatchers with all their black feathers only live from Alaska to Oregon. Most southern Oregon birds also have mixed white and brown feathers. Its eyes are yellow surrounded by a ring of red skin. Its legs are sturdy and colored from a dull pink to dull orange, hence the name “Haematopus” which suits it because of its meaning: “bloodfoot”. The foot has three “toes” that extend forward but none extend backward. Its bill is laterally flattened and is red-orange in color, but immature birds may have a black tip. Its beak measures on average about 9 centimeters. Black oystercatchers have a wide range of habitats stretching from the coasts of the Aleutian Islands to the southern tip of Baja California. They are coastal birds. They prefer rocky coasts, generally populated with mussels. They also inhabit many east...