Eurasian Oystercatcher

The Eurasian oystercatcher is one of the largest waders in its range, 40–45cm long including a bill of 8–9cm, with a wingspan of 80–85cm. It is an obvious, noisy bird with striking black-and-white plumage, pink legs, red eyes and a long, strong orange-red bill. The sexes look alike, but the female's bill is longer. In winter adults briefly show a white throat collar, which young birds keep for longer. In flight it shows white patches on the wings and tail against black upperparts (Wikipedia, general species account).

It uses its broad bill to smash or prise open molluscs such as mussels and to find earthworms; despite its name, oysters form little of its diet. It is the most widespread oystercatcher, with four subspecies breeding in western Europe, central Eurosiberia, Kamchatka, China and western Korea, and is migratory over most of its range (Wikipedia, general species account).