Black Oystercatcher
Haematopus bachmani
Black Oystercatchers are striking birds that appear all black except for their long bright orange bills and eyes ringed with yellow and orange. They are generally found at rocky shores along the Pacific Coast of North America. The left photograph was taken at Bodega Bay, CA on May 14, 2016, and the right photograph at the McLaughlin Eastshore State Park in Berkeley, CA on January 25, 2016. This species is on the U.S. "watch list" as potentially becoming endangered unless conservation actions are taken to preserve its habitats. The watch list is the result of scientific study by a 23-member consortium of government and nonprofit agencies (the North American Bird Conservation Initiative). (Click on images to see enlarged versions.)