African Oystercatcher

Haematopus moquini

Photo by balticbird

Identification

Length 42-45 cm, mass 582-835 g. Females larger than males. Adult: Black with an orange-red bill, red eyes, an orange eye ring and pink legs and feet. Immatures: Duller than adults, bill and eyes brown, eye ring narrow and legs and feet grey.

Distribution

Coast of South Africa, Namibia and southern Angola.

Taxonomy

Haematopus moquini is monotypic.

The Canary Islands Oystercatcher Haematopus meadewaldoi, which is extinct, is regarded as a subspecies of Haematopus moquini by some authorities.

Habitat

Rocky shores and sandy beaches; sometimes estuaries, lagoons and coastal pans.

Status

Classified as Near-threatened in the 2007 IUCN Red List (BirdLife International, 2007): Human disturbance (on the mainland) and introduced predators and diseases (on islands) are the main threats to this species which is present in relatively low numbers (about 6000 individuals) and has a low rate of reproduction.

Behaviour

Forages in the intertidal zone, mainly for limpets and mussels; feeds both at night and during the day. Usually forages in pairs or small groups, and roosts communally.

Breeding: The nest is a scrape in the ground above the high-water mark (but usually within 30 m thereof). One to three eggs are laid September to April.

References

BirdLife International 2007. Species factsheet: Haematopus moquini. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 14/2/2008.

Claassens A & Marais E 2008. Species information page - African Black Oystercatcher. SASOL Bird e-Guide. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org.za/fieldguide on 25 January 2008.

Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533

External Links

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