Nesting American Oystercatchers (Galapagos, Ecuador) Stock Image

American Oystercatchers: These beautiful counter shaded waders catch a lot more than oysters. Their distinctive, bright reddish-orange beak is both a hammer and a knife. Using this stout, structurally-reinforced tool, the Galapagos american oystercatchers oystercatcher can stab a bivalve between the shells and quickly slice the strong adductor muscles to get at the meat inside, or hammer away at the shell of a sea urchin, crab, or mollusk. It seems that the oystercatchers are more approachable now than, say 10 years ago. Actually, they approach you or seem to, as they patrol the beaches for food.