African Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)

Large. Medium, straight bill. Sexes alike.

Adults: Upperparts and underparts entirely black. Eyering, bright orange. Eye, red. Bill, bright orange. Some birds have small white patches on underparts. Legs, dull pink.

Immatures: Light adult but browner. Eyering, orange-brown. Bill, dull red with blackish tip. Legs, duller pink.

Other Names (World)
African Oystercatcher, African Black Oystercatcher, Black Oystercatcher

Family
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)

Size
41 cm

First Described (Guide)
Bonaparte, 1856

Range (Guide)

Namibia (B) (NB), South Africa (B) (NB).

Vagrant to Angola (NB), Mozambique (NB).

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 5,000 - 6,000 (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (10)...)

African Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini) [XC392521]
by Tim Cockcroft from Kommetjie, Cape Town area, Western Cape, South Africa (call)

African Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini) [XC80689]
by Peter Boesman from Groot Brak Rivier estuary, Southern Cape, South Africa (call)

Subspecies
Has been considered conspecific with Canarian Oystercatcher (Haematopus meadewaldoi) or with Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), or both.

No subspecies.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for African Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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