noun
: any of various wading birds of the widely distributed genus Haematopus that are 16 to 20 inches long, have stout legs and a heavy wedge-shaped bill which are usually pinkish or bright red, and in the common form of Europe, Asia, and northern Africa ( H. ostralegus ostralegus ) and that of the American Atlantic coast ( H. o. palliatus ) have plumage which is chiefly or entirely black and white — see black oyster catcher