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The Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) is a bird found in Netherlands, United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Belgium. Beaches, estuaries and wet meadows across Europe and Asia. It eats insects and other small invertebrates and fish. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.

🏡 Where the Eurasian oystercatcher lives

Beaches, estuaries and wet meadows across Europe and Asia.

🍽️ What it eats

• 🐛 Insects & bugs90%
• 🐟 Fish10%

A rough guide to its diet over a year. Source: EltonTraits (Wilman et al. 2014).

Conservation status

Hear the Eurasian oystercatcher

Recorded by David Darrell-Lambert (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0), xeno-canto XC1146955. Trimmed to a few seconds.

Questions about the Eurasian oystercatcher

Where does the Eurasian oystercatcher live?

The Eurasian oystercatcher lives in Netherlands, United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Belgium. Beaches, estuaries and wet meadows across Europe and Asia.

What does the Eurasian oystercatcher eat?

insects and other small invertebrates (about 90%), fish (about 10%). These are rough shares of its diet over a year, from the EltonTraits database.

Is the Eurasian oystercatcher endangered?

Not in danger yet, but it could be soon. Its IUCN Red List category is Near Threatened.

More birds from Europe

• Algerian nuthatch
• Common Kingfisher
• Hoopoe
• Atlantic Puffin
• Mallard
• European Robin

Sources: IUCN Red List (via Wikidata), EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014), GBIF sightings for countries, Wikipedia. Last updated 2026-10-19.