Sooty Oystercatcher

All of its feathers are black. It has a red eye, eye ring and bill, and pink legs.

The Sooty Oystercatcher is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Sooty Oystercatcher, Haematopus fuliginosus, is a species of oystercatcher. It is a wading bird native to Australia and commonly found on its coastline. It prefers rocky coastlines, but will occasionally live in estuaries. All of its feathers are black. It has a red eye, eye ring and bill, and pink legs. Sooty oystercatcher94 96.oggPlay video Mooloolabah, Australia References - * BirdLife International (2004). Haematopus fuliginosus. 2006. More

Aspects of the topic sooty oystercatcher are discussed in the following places at Britannica. Assorted References * description (in oystercatcher (bird)) ...is dark above, with a black head and neck, and white below. The black oystercatcher (H. bachmani), of western North America, and the sooty oystercatcher (H. fuliginosus), of Australia, are dark except for the pinkish legs. More

The Sooty Oystercatcher is an unmistakable, large wader, reaching 50 cm in length. Like the Pied Oystercatcher, the Sooty Oystercatcher has a bright orange-red bill, eye-ring and iris, and coral pink legs and feet. However, the Sooty Oystercatcher has entirely black plumage. Sexes are separable when together, with the female having a longer, more slender bill. The call is similar to the Pied Oystercatcher's, although sharper and more piercing. More

Sooty Oystercatchers in flight Photo: Inger Vandyke Sooty Oystercatcher nests vary from simple depressions to sophisticated constructions made of plants, shells and other building material. Inger Vandyke took this photo of "the most architectural Oystercatcher nest on Brush Island out of any of those surveyed." "It requires a certain amount of stealth to circumnavigate Brush Island. More

Sooty Oystercatcher, on a rock platform. Sooty Oystercatcher, on a rock platform. Photo: K Vang and W Dabrowka / Bird Explorers © K Vang and W Dabrowka / Bird Explorers Sooty Oystercatcher. Sooty Oystercatcher. Photo: Purnell Collection © Australian Museum Sooty Oystercatcher, nest. Sooty Oystercatcher, nest. More

Sooty Oystercatchers can be seen singly or in pairs along the entire coastline of Australia, including offshore islands and estuaries. Adult birds are large and entirely black with red eyes and beak and long, dark pink legs. Their preferred habitats are rocky headlands, shelves and beaches. Occasionally, however, they can also be seen on sandy beaches and estuarine mudflats. At low tide Sooty Oystercatchers feed on mussels and limpets on exposed rocks. More

The Sooty Oystercatcher is a striking black shorebird with a long red bill, red eye and pink legs. Young birds are duller and browner. Average size is 50cms. The Sooty Oystercatcher is endemic to Australia and is widespread in coastal eastern, southern and western Australia. It is strictly coastal, usually within 50 m of the ocean. More

Sooty Oystercatchers at the Five Islands Nature Reserve Lindsay E. Smith, Michael Jarman & Damien StaniochPhotos by Michael Jarman & Damien Stanioch Introduction The Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus), inhabits rocky shorelines and coastal islands along the coast of Australia. It forages in the littoral zone, the region between high and low tide marks and preys upon a variety of molluscs and crustaceans. More