Illustration of oystercatcher
oystercatcher
noun
oys·ter·catch·er
ˈȯi-stər-ˌka-chər 
-ˌke-
: any of a family (Haematopodidae containing a single genus Haematopus) of wading birds that have stout legs, a heavy wedge-shaped bill, and often black-and-white plumage
Examples of oystercatcher in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The trip provided views of the magnificent Chincoteague ponies in a meadow, blue herons soaring above, white egrets keeping a wary eye and oystercatchers poking the sand with their long bills.
—
Joe Heim, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2023
Single, very early common terns were reported in Chatham and Mashpee, and the first American oystercatcher was reported from North Falmouth.
—BostonGlobe.com, 22 Mar. 2023
Martha’s Vineyard: A Townsend’s solitaire in the vicinity of the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest headquarters, a great egret at Eel Pond in Edgartown, an American oystercatcher at Joseph Sylvia State Beach, and three common ravens at the Wasque Point Wildlife Management Area.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Mar. 2023
Birds that use the island as a stopover include the American oystercatcher, for which the Boston Harbor Islands are one of their northernmost breeding sites, and the islands host several colonial nesting species, such as the least tern.
—Cheryl Maguire, Washington Post, 22 July 2022
In Fairhaven, there were reports of a sora, two stilt sandpipers, and an American oystercatcher, and in Dartmouth, a yellow-throated warbler was discovered on private property.
—BostonGlobe.com, 17 Oct. 2021
As the project expanded, so did public interest, with colorful murals of the American oystercatcher, bald eagles and cerulean warblers embellishing public spaces throughout Upper Manhattan, from Hamilton Heights to Harlem.
—Jennifer Nalewicki, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Aug. 2021
For birds in decline — such as the black oystercatcher — that can have consequences.
—oregonlive, 2 July 2021
This young oystercatcher is old enough to forage but still relies on its parents for food because its beak hasn't developed the strength to open the shells of mollusks and crustaceans.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 4 Apr. 2021
Joe Heim, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2023
Single, very early common terns were reported in Chatham and Mashpee, and the first American oystercatcher was reported from North Falmouth.
—BostonGlobe.com, 22 Mar. 2023
Martha’s Vineyard: A Townsend’s solitaire in the vicinity of the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest headquarters, a great egret at Eel Pond in Edgartown, an American oystercatcher at Joseph Sylvia State Beach, and three common ravens at the Wasque Point Wildlife Management Area.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Mar. 2023
Birds that use the island as a stopover include the American oystercatcher, for which the Boston Harbor Islands are one of their northernmost breeding sites, and the islands host several colonial nesting species, such as the least tern.
—Cheryl Maguire, Washington Post, 22 July 2022
In Fairhaven, there were reports of a sora, two stilt sandpipers, and an American oystercatcher, and in Dartmouth, a yellow-throated warbler was discovered on private property.
—BostonGlobe.com, 17 Oct. 2021
As the project expanded, so did public interest, with colorful murals of the American oystercatcher, bald eagles and cerulean warblers embellishing public spaces throughout Upper Manhattan, from Hamilton Heights to Harlem.
—Jennifer Nalewicki, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Aug. 2021
For birds in decline — such as the black oystercatcher — that can have consequences.
—oregonlive, 2 July 2021
This young oystercatcher is old enough to forage but still relies on its parents for food because its beak hasn't developed the strength to open the shells of mollusks and crustaceans.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 4 Apr. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oystercatcher.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Oystercatcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oystercatcher. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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