Adults: Black with lower back, rump, basal half of tail, breast, belly, undertail coverts, underwing, wing bar, white. White tab at fold of wing. Border between black and white on breast, lower back, and wing bar, smudgy. Eyering, red. Eye, red. Bill, red and robust. Legs, stubby and pink.
Immatures: Like adult but black parts are browner. Bill is dusky red. Legs are dull.
Chatham Is, east of New Zealand, where restricted to coasts of Chatham, Mangere, Rangatira (formerly South-east I) and Pitt.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 50 - 249 (2010) and increasing.
Status EN
Predation by feral cats and Weka (Gallirallus australis) and loss of suitable nest sites by spread of introduced marram grass are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Chatham Oystercatcher (Haematopus chathamensis) [XC821399]
by David Boyle from Waitangi West, Chatham Islands Territory, New Zealand (alarm call)
Chatham Oystercatcher (Haematopus chathamensis) [XC464150]
by David Boyle from Point Gap, Chatham Island, New Zealand (call)
Subspecies
Haematopus unicolor (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Variable Oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor) and Chatham Oystercatcher (Haematopus chathamensis) following Turbott (1990).
No subspecies.
Similar Species
South Island Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi)
Slightly smaller. Border between black and white on breast, lower back, and wing bar is sharp. Bill is longer. Legs are thinner.
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet