american oystercatchers breed between april and july. their nests are shallow depressions scraped into the sand by an adult. breeding adults will make 5 or more of these scrapes, then choose one to line with shells and/or pebbles. these depressions are about 8 inches across and 2.5 inches deep. a female oystercatcher lays 2-4 eggs per nest. each egg is 2.1-2.3 cm long and 1.5-1.6cm wide. the eggs are gray and speckled with dark brown.