The American Oystercatcher
The American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus, is a large, charismatic shorebird classified as a Species of High Concern in shorebird conservation plans for the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States because of its small overall population, widespread habitat loss, and the threats it faces both during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. The species occurs only in coastal zones that support intertidal shellfish beds.
Because of their ties to the coast, American Oystercatchers face many threats, including habitat loss from coastal development, disturbance by people and pets, pressure from over-abundant predators, and the effects of climate change, especially rising sea levels, leading to habitat degradation and loss.
The American Oystercatcher Working Group was created to address these threats. We work to develop, support, and implement rangewide research and management efforts that promote the conservation of American Oystercatchers and their habitats, from Nova Scotia to Chile, through individual and partnership-based initiatives guided by Working Group membership recommendations.
In the U.S., coordinated range-wide management by Working Group members and partners have seen progress: population declines in the early 2000s have turned around, but the species still faces serious threats, including habitat loss from sea level rise and disturbance at nesting and roosting sites, and the Working Group continues to advance conservation of the species.
Award Winning Filmmaker Kim Smith Delights in American Oystercatchers
The American Oystercatcher Working Group is pleased to share this wonderful short film, created by Kim Smith, that follows three nesting American Oystercatcher families. Kim fondly refers to these birds as the triplet, twin, and singleton families. Through observing the parents' parenting and sibling dynamics, or lack thereof, Kim was able to compare and contrast their behaviors. She found it to be an incredible experience, learning so much about the life story of this dynamic bird, that she was compelled to share.
Guardianes de los Ostreros | Guardians of the Oystercatchers
As part of the Manomet Small Grants Program for the Conservation of Neotropical Shorebirds, we began implementing a project in August 2025 aimed at generating baseline data on the breeding of the American Oystercatcher and strengthening conservation tools in Villa Gesell, an Argentine coastal town under heavy pressure from tourism during the southern hemisphere summer.
