African Oystercatcher - BirdForum Opus

Alternative name: African Black Oystercatcher

Haematopus moquini

Photo by GarethH
Location: Cape Agulhas, South Africa

Photo by balticbird
Location: Kommetjie, South Africa

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

• A monotypic species.
• The Canary Islands Oystercatcher (H. meadewaldoi; extinct) is split from the African Oystercatcher.

Habitat

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

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.

Conservation 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.

References

1. BirdLife International 2007. Species factsheet: Haematopus moquini. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 14/2/2008.
2. 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.
3. Hockey P.A.R., W.R.J. Dean, & P.G. Ryan (eds.). 2005. Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533

External Links

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