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Glite Dictionary
oystercatcher

oystercatcher

1 8.7
A large black-and-white shorebird with a long orange bill that eats shellfish like oysters
  • noun
  • /ˈɔɪstərˌkætʃər/
: chorlito
  • The oystercatcher walked along the sand, searching for shellfish to eat as the tide receded.
  • the Black Oystercatcher
  • the American Oystercatcher

Examples

  • But birds such as piping plovers, oystercatchers, and willets rely mainly on camouflage, and their nests are situated far from other birds that might give early warning of danger.

    Academic text (1994)

  • In some shorebirds, such as oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) and thick-knees (Burhinidae), the young are fed by the parents, whereas in many others the young require less care; the parents only brood them and defend them from predators.

    Academic text (2006)

  • PHOTO (COLOR): American Oystercatcher; Estero Lagoon – Fort Myers Beach

    Academic text (2000)

  • Large white fulmers swoop menacingly over my head, and oystercatchers make their urgent pip-pipping noise as I intrude on their territory; evidently, they are not used to human visitors.

    Academic text (2006)

  • At the beach, I spotted an oystercatcher using its long orange bill to pry open an oyster on the rocky shore.

  • During our coastal walk, we saw a group of oystercatchers standing on the rocks, expertly hunting for dinner.

Synonyms

shorebird
vsoystercatcher
2 3.7

A bird that lives by the sea and searches mud or sand for food

is a specific coastal bird with distinct black and white look and orange bill
genus Haematopus
vsoystercatcher
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of wading birds called oystercatchers that use strong bills to open shellfish

is the common large black and white coastal bird known for eating shellfish
Haematopodidae
vsoystercatcher
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of sea birds with strong beaks that open shellfish

is a single common bird identified by its long orange bill and shellfish diet

Surface Forms

oystercatcher singular
oystercatchers plural

Morphology

oystercatcher = oyster + catcher (transparent) = oyster + catcher

Formed from 'oyster' + 'catcher' meaning 'one that catches oysters'; the meaning is directly derivable from the components.

Etymology

Oystercatcher joins oyster ('a shellfish') and catcher ('one who catches'), so it names a bird that catches oysters and other shellfish. That's why this long-billed shorebird is often seen on rocky coasts looking for food.