A Variable Oystercatcher wading in the low surf while feeding
Photographed on Stewart Island in New Zealand
Please click twice on the image to view at the largest size
When photographing these birds on Steward Island, I assumed they were Black Oystercatchers, a bird with which I was quite familiar. Imagine my surprise to find out they were, in fact, Variable Oystercatchers. They're named that because the frontal plumage *varies* so much. However all the Variable Oystercatchers on Steward Island are, according to Wikipedia, black...hence my mis-identification.
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From Wikipedia: The variable oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor) is a species of wader in the family Haematopodidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'.
Description:
"Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. These color differences are attributed to the latitude of the habitat, where the northernmost oystercatchers have significantly more white on their bodies than those of southern origin. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and orange-red beaks. Similar to a needle in shape, the bill is thin and long, and darkens to a deep red color during the breeding season. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams.[citation needed] Length of individuals range from 42 to 47 cm from beak to tail and have a short, sturdy body with a thick neck.
Distribution and habitat:
Haematopus unicolor is endemic to New Zealand. The species has likely remained endemic due to its sedentary lifestyle and lack of migration, keeping all populations within the same island habitat. They are often seen in pairs on the coast all around New Zealand. Their distribution around New Zealand is around most of the North, South and Stewart Islands coastlines and some offshore islands with the exception of outlying islands off the west coast. While they occur in lower densities on the western coastlines they are concentrated in these areas; Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Greater Wellington, Nelson/Marlborough and Fiordland.
Their preferred habitat is a wide range of coastal habitat types varying depending on activity and habitat available. Haematopus unicolor is generally never found more than 30 km from the coast.[11] Breeding and nesting occurs on sandy coasts, usually far from muddy harbours. Individuals have been known to congregate in short grassed paddocks and sometimes forage in pastures after rain however will generally remain around the coastal beaches, estuaries and shorelines. They prefer sandy coastal areas and avoid gravel beaches and boulder strewn areas. They nest on the shore between rocks or on sand dunes by making a scrape out of the sand or shingle, sometimes lined with some seaweed.
Feeding:
Feeding behaviour is diurnal and nocturnal with no feeding occurring two hours either side of high tide. The birds will then start feeding as the tide ebbs. Food is located mainly by visual location but when it is dark or the food is obscured by the substrate, they will locate food via random probing with the bill. Their diet consists of a range of molluscs, crustaceans, worms, small invertebrates and sometimes small fish. The molluscs are mainly bivalves and are opened by the birds by using the bill to stab and twist them open. Some birds have been observed to hammer them open. After heavy rain, they sometime go inland in search of earthworms.
0I7A9487fFlkrDs
A Variable Oystercatcher wading in the low surf while feeding
Photographed on Stewart Island in New Zealand
Please click twice on the image to view at the largest size
When photographing these birds on Steward Island, I assumed they were Black Oystercatchers, a bird with which I was quite familiar. Imagine my surprise to find out they were, in fact, Variable Oystercatchers. They're named that because the frontal plumage *varies* so much. However all the Variable Oystercatchers on Steward Island are, according to Wikipedia, black...hence my mis-identification.
======================
From Wikipedia: The variable oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor) is a species of wader in the family Haematopodidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'.
Description:
"Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. These color differences are attributed to the latitude of the habitat, where the northernmost oystercatchers have significantly more white on their bodies than those of southern origin. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and orange-red beaks. Similar to a needle in shape, the bill is thin and long, and darkens to a deep red color during the breeding season. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams.[citation needed] Length of individuals range from 42 to 47 cm from beak to tail and have a short, sturdy body with a thick neck.
Distribution and habitat:
Haematopus unicolor is endemic to New Zealand. The species has likely remained endemic due to its sedentary lifestyle and lack of migration, keeping all populations within the same island habitat. They are often seen in pairs on the coast all around New Zealand. Their distribution around New Zealand is around most of the North, South and Stewart Islands coastlines and some offshore islands with the exception of outlying islands off the west coast. While they occur in lower densities on the western coastlines they are concentrated in these areas; Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Greater Wellington, Nelson/Marlborough and Fiordland.
Their preferred habitat is a wide range of coastal habitat types varying depending on activity and habitat available. Haematopus unicolor is generally never found more than 30 km from the coast.[11] Breeding and nesting occurs on sandy coasts, usually far from muddy harbours. Individuals have been known to congregate in short grassed paddocks and sometimes forage in pastures after rain however will generally remain around the coastal beaches, estuaries and shorelines. They prefer sandy coastal areas and avoid gravel beaches and boulder strewn areas. They nest on the shore between rocks or on sand dunes by making a scrape out of the sand or shingle, sometimes lined with some seaweed.
Feeding:
Feeding behaviour is diurnal and nocturnal with no feeding occurring two hours either side of high tide. The birds will then start feeding as the tide ebbs. Food is located mainly by visual location but when it is dark or the food is obscured by the substrate, they will locate food via random probing with the bill. Their diet consists of a range of molluscs, crustaceans, worms, small invertebrates and sometimes small fish. The molluscs are mainly bivalves and are opened by the birds by using the bill to stab and twist them open. Some birds have been observed to hammer them open. After heavy rain, they sometime go inland in search of earthworms.
0I7A9487fFlkrDs