A flock of torea (Haematopus finschi ) on a sandbank in the Heathcote/Avon stuary
The torea (South Island pied oystercatcher or SIPO) is the most abundant oystercatcher in New Zealand. The conspicuous black and white plumage and long red bill make this a familiar species. It is found on most estuaries, with numbers greatest during the period December to July. Fewer birds remain in coastal areas during the rest of the year, with most of the population moving to inland South Island riverbeds and farmland to breed.
The ‘SIPO’ is one of two species of oystercatcher on the New Zealand mainland. Solidly built, it is a striking black-and-white wader with a long, stout red bill and thick pink legs. There is a sharp border on the lower breast between the black upperparts and white underparts. In flight there is a white wingbar, rump and lower back. The sexes are similar. Juveniles have a brownish tinge to their plumage, dusky red bill and dull pink legs.
Can be confused with pied morph of variable oystercatcher, but the latter has a smudgy border on the chest and in flight has less extent of white, also with smudgy edges to rump and lower back.
A flock of torea (Haematopus finschi ) on a sandbank in the Heathcote/Avon stuary
The torea (South Island pied oystercatcher or SIPO) is the most abundant oystercatcher in New Zealand. The conspicuous black and white plumage and long red bill make this a familiar species. It is found on most estuaries, with numbers greatest during the period December to July. Fewer birds remain in coastal areas during the rest of the year, with most of the population moving to inland South Island riverbeds and farmland to breed.
The ‘SIPO’ is one of two species of oystercatcher on the New Zealand mainland. Solidly built, it is a striking black-and-white wader with a long, stout red bill and thick pink legs. There is a sharp border on the lower breast between the black upperparts and white underparts. In flight there is a white wingbar, rump and lower back. The sexes are similar. Juveniles have a brownish tinge to their plumage, dusky red bill and dull pink legs.
Can be confused with pied morph of variable oystercatcher, but the latter has a smudgy border on the chest and in flight has less extent of white, also with smudgy edges to rump and lower back.