A New Arrival: Watch an Oystercatcher Chick Hatching

Video courtesy of the Peak District Moorland Group.

Watch this newly hatched oystercatcher chick, discovered during a routine nest check by a Peak District gamekeeper. It’s staggering how such a large chick contorts itself during development to eventually chip its way out using the tiny "egg tooth" visible on its upper beak.

This swift, 30-second check is a vital part of monitoring breeding success across the moorland. And the best part? The two remaining eggs are already "chipping" and getting ready to join their sibling!

Unlike many other wader chicks that hit the ground running and foraging, these semi-precocial chicks—despite hatching with their eyes open and ready to walk—get VIP treatment. Their parents will hand-feed them invertebrates for the next few weeks until they learn the ropes.

A wonderful success story for our ground-nesting birds!