Haematopus ostralegus, commonly known as the Eurasian Oystercatcher, is native to the coastal regions of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Its primary distribution includes the Atlantic coasts of Europe, from Iceland and Scandinavia in the north, through the British Isles and western continental Europe, and reaching as far south as the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean coastlines. It is also found along the Baltic Sea and extends into parts of Central Asia.

The Eurasian Oystercatcher primarily inhabits coastal areas, including rocky and sandy shores, mudflats, and estuaries. These environments offer an abundance of its main food sources, such as bivalves, crustaceans, and marine worms. The bird prefers temperate climates, although some populations can be found in more arid or tundra regions during migration seasons.

Eurasian Oystercatchers are well-adapted to shoreline environments where they use their strong, long bills to forage for shellfish and other invertebrates. This bird species often nests on the ground in open areas close to water. While oystercatchers are predominantly coastal, some subspecies or regional groups may exploit inland water bodies or undertake seasonal migrations, during which they may inhabit different ecological niches, like agricultural fields.