American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
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![]() This colorful shorebird is found on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, as shown above (Texas) and below (Florida); a second population inhabits the southern Pacific Coast, south of the habitat of its near relative, the Black Oystercatcher of northern California and the Pacific Northwest. | |
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![]() Birds of the Pacific population of American Oystercatcher, above and, with a Royal Tern, below, both in Baja California, often show some dark feathers on the part of the upper breast that is pure white in the Atlantic/Gulf population. American x Black Oystercatcher hybrids are sometimes found in the Pacific habitat of the species, which overlaps a bit with the more northerly Black Oystercatcher habitat. |
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![]() A mating pair of American Oystercatchers on Tampa Bay. |