Oystercatchers on the Central Coast: The Red-Beaked Beach Birds
If you’ve ever gone for a walk along the beach or around the rocky shorelines of the Central Coast, you might’ve spotted a small black or black-and-white bird with bright red legs and a long red beak. That’s an oystercatcher – one of our more unique and eye-catching coastal birds.
They might not be as well-known as pelicans or seagulls, but once you know what to look for, you’ll start seeing these little beach birds all over the place.
What are oystercatchers?
Oystercatchers are coastal birds known for their striking red beaks, red eyes and legs, and loud, piping calls. We have two types on the Central Coast:
Sooty Oystercatcher – completely black with a red beak and legs.
Pied Oystercatcher – black and white with the same red beak and legs.
Both types are usually seen in pairs or small groups along rocky or sandy shorelines. They use their strong beaks to hunt for food like molluscs, small crabs, and – yes – oysters, which they pry open or hammer into!
Where can you see them?
The Central Coast is a great place to spot oystercatchers. Some of their favourite spots include:
Norah Head – especially around the rocky platforms.
Terrigal Haven – you’ll often see them at low tide, searching for food.
Blue Bay, Bateau Bay and Avoca Beach – look along the water’s edge or rocky areas.
Wamberal Lagoon and The Entrance North – good nesting spots during breeding season.
They prefer quieter beaches or less disturbed areas, so early mornings or late afternoons are the best times to see them.
What do they eat?
Oystercatchers use their long beaks to poke around in the sand, mud, and between rocks looking for shellfish. They’re experts at cracking open oysters, mussels, and pipis. They also eat worms and small sea creatures they find along the shore.
If you spot one, you might see it standing still, watching the waves, or quickly jabbing at something in the sand. It’s fascinating to watch them hunt!
Nesting and chicks
Oystercatchers nest on the beach, often just above the high tide line. Their nests are simple – usually just a shallow scrape in the sand or gravel. This means their eggs can be hard to see, and the chicks are very vulnerable.
In spring and summer, you might see fluffy, camouflaged chicks following their parents. If you do, give them plenty of space – they frighten easily and need their parents to protect and feed them.
Helping protect oystercatchers
These birds are beautiful, but also at risk due to human activity. Here's how we can help:
Keep dogs on leads near nesting areas.
Stick to marked paths on beaches and dunes.
Don’t disturb the birds or their nests – especially during breeding season.
Pick up rubbish – Discarded plastic and fishing lines can hurt them, the fishing line gets caught around the legs & feet.
Supporting Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast who care for shore birds and protect breeding areas
By looking out for our oystercatchers, we help keep the Central Coast a safe and welcoming place for all kinds of wildlife.