Oystercatchers
The Oystercatchers are a group of waders; they form the family Haematopodidae, which has a single genus, Haematopus. They are large obvious and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
In some species, the bill shape varies according to the diet. Those birds with blade-like bill tips prise open or smash mollusc shells, and those with pointed bill tips tend to probe for annelid worms.
They are found on coasts worldwide apart from the polar regions. They are all-black, black and white or brown and white in appearance.
Their eggs are laid in a shallow scrape on shingle. Oystercatcher eggs are grey and speckled, providing camouflage against the grey rock background. They are pointed at one end. Contrary to popular belief, the purpose of this is not to provide space for the chick's long beaks (their long beaks develop after hatching). The pointed shape is thought to prevent the eggs from rolling down a steep slope.
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Sub-species:
African Black Oystercatcher: The African Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus moquini, is a large wader which is a resident breeder on the rocky coasts and islands of southern Africa.
This oystercatcher has a population of less than 5,000 adults. The African Black Oystercatcher is a large and noisy plover-like bird, with completely black plumage, red legs and a strong broad red bill used for smashing or prying open molluscs such as mussels, or for finding earthworms. The sexes are similar in appearance, but juveniles are browner than adults. The African Black Oystercatcher is unmistakable in flight with its all-dark plumage.
The call is a distinctive loud piping, very similar to Common Pied Oystercatcher. That migratory species can occur as a vagrant in southern Africa, but its black-and-white plumage makes confusion impossible. The nest is a bare scrape on pebbles or shingles. The female generally lays 2-4 eggs, which are incubated by both adults. The scientific name commemorates the French naturalist Alfred Moquin-Tandon.
American Black Oystercatcher
American Oystercatcher
Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani): USGS ... Audubon Watch List
Canarian Black Oystercatcher or Canary Islands Oystercatcher( Haematopus meadewaldoi) (EXTINCT): This bird was endemic to Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and their offshore islets in the Canary Islands, Spain. This bird was last collected in 1913 and locally reported to have become extinct by the 1940s. It is now considered extinct, because extensive surveys in the mid-80s failed to find any evidence of the Canarian Black Oystercatcher's survival, despite four convincing reports (two from Tenerife and two from Senegal) between 1968 and 1981. Over-harvesting of intertidal invertebrates and disturbance by people was probably the cause of its decline, although predation by rats and cats has also been implicated.
Chatham Island Oystercatcher (Haematopus chathamensis): A species of oystercatcher. It is a wading bird endemic to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. This species is endangered, and has a current population of less than 150. The main threat is from introduced predators.
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Magellanic Oystercatcher
Pied Oystercatcher
Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus): A wading bird native to Australia and commonly found on its coastline. It prefers rocky coastlines, but will occasionally live in estuaries.
All of its feathers are black. It has a red eye, eye ring and bill, and pink legs
Variable Oystercatcher (Torea, torepango): (endemic) As name suggests this birds plumage can vary from black to pied with the black phase being the most common on the peninsula. Unlike the pied oystercatcher the variable prefers rocky and sandy coasts to establish territory
Related Websites: Haematopodidae Oystercatchers (Monterey Bay) ... Birds of Britain ... Oystercatcher - Haematopus Ostralegus (Photo & Sound File) ... Oystercatchers (Info & Photos) ... Oystercatcher - Haematopus Ostralegus (Sounds of Birds)
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