AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHER 



breast black; back and wing coverts olive 

 brown; wings and tail (except base), fuscous; 

 area on wing, and upper tail coverts white, 

 base of tail white; lower breast and abdomen 



FIG. 10. Hcematopus p. palliatus 



abruptly white. Bill twice as long as head, 

 compressed from side to side, bright red; eye 

 ring red: feet flesh color. 



Female. Like male but a little larger. 



Young. Color duller, the black, dusky: bill 

 brownish, feet dull grayish. 



This large, heavily built bird frequents 'he 

 sea coast, usually in pairs, seeming to prefer 

 rocky shores. It has a loud prolonged call which 

 it often utters at night as well as in the day lime. 

 It is not uncommon in spring on the islands of 

 Panama Bay, and has been recorded from the 

 beaches just east of Panama City. 

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