Pied Oystercatcher

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 coastines, where they feed mainly on bivalve molluscs, which are prised apart with their specially adapted bill.

The Pied 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 Pied Oystercatcher, Haematopus longirostris, is a species of oystercatcher. It is a wading bird native to Australia and commonly found on its coastline. The similar South Island Pied Oystercatcher (H. finschi) occurs in New Zealand. More

Common Pied Oystercatcher, or (in Europe) just Oystercatcher, is a wader in the oystercatcher bird family Haematopodidae. It is the most widespread of the oystercatchers, with three races breeding in western Europe, central Eurasia, Kamchatka, China, and Western coast of Korea. No other oystercatcher occurs within this area. This oystercatcher is the national bird of the Faroe Islands, where it is called tjaldur. More

Pied Oystercatcher Size: 48-50cm Habitat: Found around the entire Australian coastline. frequents sandy beaches, mudflats, islands and estuaries. Feeds on crustations and molluscs. Notes: Head and neck black, underboby white, black wings, bright red eyes and beak, pink legs. Breeds Spring-Summer. For more information on Pied Oystercatcher see references. Images have been uploaded in low resolution for storage efficiency, ( they do not reflect the true image quality). Original images are high quality photographic files. More

The Pied Oystercatcher is an unmistakable, large, black and white wader, reaching 50 cm in length. The sexes are similar, yet may be separable when together with the female having a slightly longer, more slender bill. When not in flight, the Pied Oystercatcher appears entirely black above, with white underparts. The back, head and breast are black, and the belly, rump and tail are white. The tail is tipped black. More

Pied Oystercatcher with oyster in his beakThe Pied Oystercatcher, Haematopus longirostris, is a species of oystercatcher. It is a wading bird native to Australia and commonly found on its coastline. The Pied Oystercatcher can also be found in New Zealand. Description The name "oystercatcher" is something of a misnomer because these birds rarely eat oysters, which are found mainly on rocky coastlines. More

Pied Oystercatchers feed mainly on bivalve molluscs, but also take other invertebrates. The techniques they use to break open the shells of the molluscs vary greatly and are thought to be learned behavior. They nest in shallow scrapes made in open areas near the shore and produce 2-3 eggs in a typical clutch. Each couple protects its nesting area and often uses the same area year after year. More

Pied Oystercatcher may occasionally be found in estuarine mudflat's and short wet pastures. Where once they numbered in the hundreds of thousands, Pied Oystercatchers have now declined throughout much of their range and the current population may be as low as 10,000. Closely related forms are found in almost every continent in the world and are all facing the same challenges and population decline. More

The South Island pied oystercatcher breeds only in the South Island; the variable oystercatcher breeds in North, South, Stewart, and Chatham Islands. In spite of its scientific name, the variable oyster-catcher (as its common name suggests) may occur in pied or black plumage or in a range of plumages intermediate between these two. It was originally named after the black phase and before it was realised that its other colour phases all belonged to the same species. More

The Pied Oystercatcher is black with a white breast and belly. All oystercatchers have a bright orange-red bill, eye-rings and legs and a red eye. Young birds are similar in appearance to the adults, but lack the intense red-orange colours and are brown rather than black. The Pied Oystercatcher is shy of humans and seldom allows close approach. Similar species The white breast and belly distinguish the Pied Oystercatcher from the closely related Sooty Oystercatcher, H. More

pied oystercatcher in the shallowsSingle download Size License Price Resolution & dimensions Download XS XS Standard 1 credit (from $ 0.75) 424 x 283 (0.1 MP), 5.9 '' x 3.9 '' @72 dpi download S S Standard 3 credits (from $ 2.25) 849 x 566 (0. More

pied oystercatcher; “the oystercatcher is one of the the wariest and most restless of our birds. It is always ready with its clamorous alarm note to wake up each echo and disturb every bird within the sound of its shrill cry. But in the breeding season it exhibits an intensity of slyness that is almost supernatural. More

the American Pied Oystercatcher, is a member of family Haematopodidae. The bird is marked by its black and white body and a long, thick orange beak. This shorebird is approximately 19 inches (42 – 52 cm) in length. The American Oystercatcher is found on the Atlantic coast of North America from New England to northern Florida, where it is also found on the Gulf coast, and south to northern South America. More

The pied oystercatcher or torea is the most common oystercatcher in New Zealand, numbering around 112,000 birds in 1994. The New Zealand subspecies (Haematopus ostralegus finschi) is the South Island pied oystercatcher or SIPO. It has a black head and upper surfaces, and a white belly. A white Y pattern between the chest and the folded wing distinguishes it from the pied phase of the variable oystercatcher. More

The Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris) is a species of wading bird found commonly along the coastline of Australia. They prefer sandy coasts, where they feed on bivalve mollusks and other invertebrates. Despite its name, they rarely eat oysters, which are found mainly on rocky coastlines. This bird is easily identifiable by its characteristic 2 to 3 inch long orange-red beak, slender pink legs, and black and white plumage. When the wings are extended, a white wing-stripe is visible. More

The pied oystercatcher breeds inland on river beds and farmland, mainly in the South Island and migrates north to estuaries in autumn and winter. The variable breeds on rocky and sandy coasts and stays in its territories all the year round. The variable is slightly larger. In its variable phase is usually identified from the pied by the lack of a white tab in front of the folded wing, an exercise for birdwatchers. More

South Island Pied Oystercatcher, behind the Spur-winged Plover in the photograph, does actually not eat that many oysters. Mostly they eat molluscs as they have that long bill which can pry the shell apart and eat the food inside. It is mostly found on sandy coastlines, where oysters are not found, looking for food, and just like the Spur-winged Plover, it also doesn't spend a lot of time in the air. More

The Pied Oystercatcher breeds in pairs. A breeding territory of some 200 m is formed and is defended by both birds. Nesting takes place on sand, shell grit or shingle just above high water mark on beaches, sandbars, margins of estuaries and lagoons. The eggs are well-camouflaged, being pale brown with darker brown and black blotches and streaks. Both sexes share parenting duties. More