Pied Oystercatcher vs South Island Oystercatcher

Pied Oystercatcher

Haematopus longirostris

Large614 gCoastal

The name "oystercatcher" is something of a misnomer for this species, because they seldom eat oysters, which are found mainly on rocky coastlines. Pied oystercatchers frequent sandy coastlines, where they feed mainly on bivalve molluscs, which are prised apart with their specially adapted bill. These adaptations allow the Pied oystercatchers to slip their bills between the ventral edges of these shelled organisms, further allowing them to sever the shells and reach the edible flesh inside.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: patrickkavanagh · CC BY 2.0

South Island Oystercatcher

Haematopus finschi

Large526 gCoastal

The South Island oystercatcher is easily identifiable as a pied oystercatcher – a large wader with striking black and white plumage, long red-orange bill, and red legs. It is distinguished from the pied morph of the variable oystercatcher by a white lower back, more white on the wing, and a demarcation line of black and white further forward on the breast, and from the pied oystercatcher of Australia by a longer bill and shorter legs, as well as the forward demarcation line of white on the back being pointed rather than square. It is 46 cm in length; its wingspan is 80–86 cm; it weighs 550 g. Voice: It has piping calls, which are used socially and aggressively, as well as a piercing alarm call and a quiet flight call.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Pwhdavey - Paul Davey · CC BY 3.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Pied Oystercatcher and South Island Oystercatcher.