This paper analyses the relationships between body weight in the Oyste
rcatcher and two measures of its body size, bill length and wing lengt
h. The weight variation between individuals due to differences in body
size is nearly as large as the seasonal variation in body weight with
in individuals. Wing length is a better predictor of body weight than
bill length. The difference in body weight between age classes mostly
disappears if wing length is taken into account. In contrast, females
with similar wing length as males are 20 g heavier. Carcass analysis s
howed that this difference is due to a higher fat loading in the femal
es. The paper gives a method to standardize the body weight of the Oys
tercatcher.