Haematopus finschi x Haematopus unicolor
An uncommon but not unusual hybrid of two New Zealand species of oystercatcher, the South Island Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi) and the Variable Oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor). Hybrids of these species are very difficult to differentiate from the intermediate 'smudgy' colour morph of the variable oystercatcher, and location, as much as anything, can determine the identification. Genuine smudgy variables are largely unknown in Canterbury where this photo was taken, but hybrids are regularly recorded, adding strength to the ID of a hybrid for this bird on Kaitorete Spit, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Haematopus finschi x Haematopus unicolor
An uncommon but not unusual hybrid of two New Zealand species of oystercatcher, the South Island Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi) and the Variable Oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor). Hybrids of these species are very difficult to differentiate from the intermediate 'smudgy' colour morph of the variable oystercatcher, and location, as much as anything, can determine the identification. Genuine smudgy variables are largely unknown in Canterbury where this photo was taken, but hybrids are regularly recorded, adding strength to the ID of a hybrid for this bird on Kaitorete Spit, Canterbury, New Zealand.