- Haematopus longirostris
Identification
5–8 cm long orange-red beak, orange eye ring, red eye, pink legs, black and white plumage, white wing-stripe. The male and female are similar but males have a shorter, wider beak. The white breast and belly distinguish the Pied Oystercatcher from the closely related Sooty Oystercatcher, H. fuliginosus, which has all black plumage.
Distribution
Australia. The similar South Island Oystercatcher (H. finschi) occurs in New Zealand.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Sandy coastlines, mudflats, sandbanks.
Behaviour
Diet includes bivalve molluscs and other invertebrates
Nests are shallow scrapes. 2-3 pale brown with darker brown and black blotches and streaks eggs are produced. Both sexes share parenting duties.
