South Island Oystercatcher © James Nock

Large. Medium, straight bill. Sexes alike. Adults: Upperparts, throat, breast, black. Belly, rump, white. Eyering, red. Eye, red. Broad, angled white wingbar visible in flight. Underwing, most white, only tips black. Bill, orange. Legs, red. Immatures: Like adult but black parts have brownish edges. Legs are paler.

Vagrant to Australia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu.

Frequently considered to be subspecies of Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) or Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris).

Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus).

No subspecies.

Similar Species
Variable Oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor)
Slightly smaller. Adult with pied phase. Lacks a white tab at fold. Border between black and white on breast, lower back, and wing bar is smudgy. Bill is longer. Legs and feet are thinner.

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References
See References.

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


Files:

BirdLife International For more information about the South Island Oystercatcher see... BirdLife International Species Factsheet. Articles about the South Island Oystercatcher If you would like to read any articles about the South Island Oystercatcher... Show Articles (0) No Pictures of South Island Oystercatcher If Birdpedia has no pictures of South Island Oystercatcher or you would like to see more, then try the following...       From BING (10) No Videos of South Island Oystercatcher If Birdpedia has no videos of South Island Oystercatcher or you would like to see more, then try the following..       From BING (0) Where can I observe this species? Select an area (or leave blank) to see locations where this species has been recorded. Area   MALAMPA PENAMA SANMA SHEFA TAFEA TORBA OCEAN   All    Optional: Complete the following if you wish to restrict the reserve to within a given distance of a location. Please enter the Latitude and Longitiude of a given location together with the maximum distance (km) to display a list of reserves within that distance. You must enter a Latitude, a Longitude and a distance greater than 0.   Latitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          N S or   GPS help Longitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          E W or   Find GPS using Google Maps Distance Bearing     N NE E SE S SW W NW Get Sample GPS readings On What Field Trips was this species observed? Select an area (or leave blank), and a date range, to see field trips on which this species has been recorded. Area   MALAMPA PENAMA SANMA SHEFA TAFEA TORBA OCEAN   All    From To     Optional: Complete the following if you wish to restrict the reserve to within a given distance of a location. Please enter the Latitude and Longitiude of a given location together with the maximum distance (km) to display a list of reserves within that distance. You must enter a Latitude, a Longitude and a distance greater than 0.   Latitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          N S or   GPS help Longitude: (Decimal degrees takes precedence) Deg Min Sec     Decimal degrees (Include compass setting or value)          E W or Distance Bearing     N NE E SE S SW W NW Get Sample GPS readings Latest Sightings for South Island Oystercatcher Select the Area to restrict the Sightings. Area   MALAMPA PENAMA SANMA SHEFA TAFEA TORBA OCEAN   All