In black & white

Felix Aldred follows the fortunes of a family of oystercatchers on a Suffolk river estuary

- Felix Aldred

Oystercatchers are wading birds found along coasts everywhere, including Suffolk. This unique species can be identified by its black and white plumage and its long orange bill, used to feed on intertidal prey such as shellfish and worms.

The Eurasian Oystercatcher exclusively lives in Europe, Asia and North Africa, typically migrating south during winter. They have a wide variety of coastal habitats including salt marshes, coastal sand and shingle beaches, as well as river estuaries. Some populations live more inland in areas such as reservoirs. Oystercatchers survive up to 35 years in the wild. They have a varied diet, which differs depending on its habitat. In rocky, coastal regions they feed on molluscs and crustaceans, in river estuaries and reservoirs they feed on worms and other invertebrates.

They also successfully prey on mussels and other shellfish, using the hard tip of their bright orange bill – the heaviest of all the wading birds – to force open the shells.

Despite the name, oysters are not usually part of the oystercatcher’s diet. They also use their hard, bony bill to defend territory and fend off predators.