oyster catcher
Definition
Noun: A coastal wading bird characterized by its black and white plumage, strong legs, and a long, stout, laterally compressed bill, typically red or orange in color. It is named for its habit of feeding on bivalves like oysters and mussels.
Usage
The term "oyster catcher" refers specifically to the bird species. It is used as a common name. * We saw an oyster catcher probing the mudflats for food. * The oyster catcher's loud call is a familiar sound along this coast.
Advanced Usage
- Collective Noun: A group of these birds can be referred to as a "parcel" of oyster catchers.
- A parcel of oyster catchers took flight as the tide came in.
Variants and Related Words
- Oystercatcher: This is the standard, single-word spelling used in most modern ornithological contexts.
- The Eurasian oystercatcher is a common sight.
Synonyms
- Shorebird: A general term for birds that inhabit coastal areas.
- Wader: A general term for long-legged birds that feed in shallow water.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- The world is your oyster: This common idiom is unrelated to the bird. It means you have the freedom and opportunity to do anything or go anywhere you want in life. It originates from Shakespeare's ("Why, then the world's mine oyster, Which I with sword will open").
- After graduation, she felt the world was her oyster.
Noun
-
black-and-white shorebird with stout legs and bill; feed on oysters etc.
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