Jehl scale analysis of today American Oystercatcher

CHARACTER                             CHARACTER STATE AND
SCORE

Upper
tail coverts             3       white, a few
black mottlings

Tail                           3       basal half of
rectrices white

Edge
on upper breast           3       black chest band
bordered by ragged

Belly                          6       entirely white,
as in palliatus

Under
tail coverts             3       mainly white

Thighs                         4       entirely white,
as in palliatus

Greater
secondary coverts      3       6-15 mm

   (width of white edging     

   in folded wing)            

Extent
of white wing stripe    2       white markings extend to outer
secondaries, but not onto primaries

Underwing
coverts              3       mainly white

Axillars                       4       white, as in palliatus