Similar Species
South Island Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi)
Noticeably dumpier due to shorter legs. Bill is slightly longer, finer and orange, not red. Underwings are mostly white (black tips). In flight the white of rump and back form a clear triangle shape (as opposed to square). The broad, white, diagonal wingbar extends to the trailing edge of the inner secondaries.
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The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9