American oystercatchers are among the earliest breeding birds to return to the Falmouth area as summer residents. They are very distinctive with their long red-orange bill, yellow eyes, dark upperparts and white underparts. Oystercatchers are found along saltwater coastal habitats including salt marshes and pebbly beaches. This oystercatcher was recently seen probing for shellfish in the intertidal zone close to low tide at Wood Neck Beach.

Check out these links for more Oystercatcher information online:

American Oystercatcher ID tips

American Oystercatcher Working Group research

American Oystercatcher summary sheet