About the Magellanic Oystercatcher
The Magellanic oystercatcher is a species of wader in the family Haematopodidae. It is found in Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands in freshwater lake and sandy shore habitats.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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The Magellanic oystercatcher has a length between 42 and 46 cm (17 and 18 in). The male weighs around 600 g (21 oz) and the female is a little heavier. This bird has a long, orange beak, yellow eye and eye ring, and yellow legs. The head, breast, back, wings and tail are black and the underparts are white, as are the feathers on the inner part of the wing which can be seen in flight. It is very similar in appearance to the American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), but can be distinguished by the yellow ring of bare skin that surrounds its yellow eye and the white secondary feathers.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Magellanic Oystercatcher lives
When to see the Magellanic Oystercatcher
Peak activity in November · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Blackish OystercatcherHaematopus aterThe blackish oystercatcher's plumage is slaty-black with wings and back rather dark brown.
African OystercatcherHaematopus moquiniThe African oystercatcher is a large, noisy wader, with completely black plumage, red legs and a strong broad red bill.
South Island OystercatcherHaematopus finschiThe 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.
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