Physical 

Oyster Catchers reach from 43-53 cm in length.  They are patterned with blackish brown and white dorsally and white stripe on their wings.  Their noticeably dark orange/red bills are long and narrow, with redish-pink legs and feet.  Their eyes also yellow with an orange surrounding.

Habitat

H. palliates live on sandy and pebbled beaches, mudflats, and the borders of salt marshes.  They hardly venture inland as to stay near their preys general location.  They winter from North Carolina on south.

Feeding 

Oyster Catchers predominantly eat mussels, barnacles, and snails.  Their diet also includes other bivalves astheir name suggests.  They have also been noted to eat sea urchins, starfish, and worms on occassion.  They do not stray much from marshes, beds, or inlets where these prey reside.