The species occurs around almost the entire coastline of Australia, inhabiting sandy beaches and mudflats.

Oystercatchers are typically seen probing the sand or mud with their long bills in search of sandworms, molluscs or crabs, sometimes hammering at their shells. Or they may be seen roosting at high tide, sometimes with other species, such as gulls, cormorants, waterfowl or other waders.

Scientific name: Haematopus longirostris