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Difference between revisions of "American Oystercatcher" - BirdForum Opus

 
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[[Image:American_Oystercatcher.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|gigo|gigo}} <br />Fort Myers Beach, [[Florida]], [[USA]]]]
 
;[[:Category:Haematopus|Haematopus]] palliatus
 
;[[:Category:Haematopus|Haematopus]] palliatus
[[Image:American_Oystercatcher.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by gigo.<br />Photo taken: Fort Myers Beach, [[Florida]], [[USA]]]]
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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[[Image:American Oystercatcher Young2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile, Nominate subspecies<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Luis+R|Luis R}}<br />Algarrobo Beach, V Region, [[Chile]], February 2018]]
 
L. 17-21 in (43-53 cm)
 
L. 17-21 in (43-53 cm)
 
*Large, stocky shorebird
 
*Large, stocky shorebird
 
*Boldly patterened in blackish brown and white
 
*Boldly patterened in blackish brown and white
 
*Long red bill
 
*Long red bill
*Pink legs and feet
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*Pale pink legs and feet
 
*Bold white wing patches in flight
 
*Bold white wing patches in flight
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*Eye yellow, surrounded by a red ring
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
Seacoasts and islands of [[U.S.]] to southern [[South America]].
 
Seacoasts and islands of [[U.S.]] to southern [[South America]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>====
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====Subspecies====
*''H. p. palliatus'' - Seacoasts and islands of US to s S America and West Indies
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[[Image:16510Pilpilen .jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|Rodrigo+Reyes|Rodrigo Reyes}} <br />Mantagua, [[Chile]], September 2006]]
*''H. p. galapagensis'' - Galapagos Islands
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There are 2 subspecies<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>:
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*''H. p. palliatus'':
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:*Seacoasts and islands of [[US]] to southern [[South America]] and [[West Indies]]
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*''H. p. galapagensis'':
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:*[[Galapagos Islands]]
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Additional subspecies ''prattii, durnfordi, pitanay'' and ''frazari'' are generally considered invalid<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup>.
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Sandy and pebbly beaches, mudflats, borders of salt marshes.
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Marshes and wetlands, coastal desert and pebbly beaches, mudflats and shellbars'
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Sandy and pebbly beaches, mudflats, borders of salt marshes. <sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
Although they do not breed in colonies, these birds gather in large flocks during migration and in winter.
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Congregate into large flocks in winter and on migration.
====Feeding====
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====Diet====
Oystercatchers insert their long blade-like bills into mussels and other bivalves, severing the powerful adductor muscles before the shells can close. They also feed on barnacles and snails.
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They specialise in shellfish, using their beak to break open the shells. They also eat worms and insects.
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
2-4 buff eggs, sparsely marked with brown, in a shallow depression lined with shell fragments.
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Two to four buffy eggs, with sparse brown markings, are laid in a shallow depression lined with shell fragments.  
 
 
Large, conspicuous birds that were hunted to near-extinction along the Atlantic Coast. Given total protection, they have once again become numerous and now nest in numbers as far north as Massachusetts, where just a few years ago they were very rare.
 
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
 
A high whistle, usually given in flight
 
A high whistle, usually given in flight
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Avibase
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*[http://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/americanoystercatcher.html Arthur Grosset's Birds]
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{{ref}}
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==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Haematopus+palliatus}}  
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{{GSearch|"Haematopus palliatus" {{!}} "American Oystercatcher"}}
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Haematopus]]
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Haematopus]]

Latest revision as of 18:15, 23 October 2023

Photo © by gigo
Fort Myers Beach, Florida, USA
Haematopus palliatus

Identification

Juvenile, Nominate subspecies
Photo © by Luis R
Algarrobo Beach, V Region, Chile, February 2018

L. 17-21 in (43-53 cm)

  • Large, stocky shorebird
  • Boldly patterened in blackish brown and white
  • Long red bill
  • Pale pink legs and feet
  • Bold white wing patches in flight
  • Eye yellow, surrounded by a red ring

Distribution

Seacoasts and islands of U.S. to southern South America.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Photo © by Rodrigo Reyes
Mantagua, Chile, September 2006

There are 2 subspecies1:

  • H. p. palliatus:
  • H. p. galapagensis:

Additional subspecies prattii, durnfordi, pitanay and frazari are generally considered invalid2.

Habitat

Marshes and wetlands, coastal desert and pebbly beaches, mudflats and shellbars' Sandy and pebbly beaches, mudflats, borders of salt marshes. 1

Behaviour

Congregate into large flocks in winter and on migration.

Diet

They specialise in shellfish, using their beak to break open the shells. They also eat worms and insects.

Breeding

Two to four buffy eggs, with sparse brown markings, are laid in a shallow depression lined with shell fragments.

Vocalisation

A high whistle, usually given in flight

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Avibase

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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