The 12 species of Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) are found on coasts worldwide apart from the polar regions and some tropical regions of Africa and South East Asia. The exception to this is the Eurasian Oystercatcher and the South Island Oystercatcher, both of which may breed far inland in some cases.

The different species of oystercatcher show little variation in shape or appearance. The plumage of all species is either all-black, or black on top and white underneath. They are large, obvious, and noisy plover-like birds, with massive long orange or red bills used for smashing or prying open molluscs. The bill shape varies between species, according to the diet. Those birds with blade-like bill tips pry open or smash mollusc shells, and those with pointed bill tips tend to probe for annelid worms.

One species of oystercatcher became extinct during the 20th century, the Canarian Black Oystercatcher.