Haematopodidae Archives

Haematopodidae - Oystercatchers

There are 11 extant (living) species in this family. Oystercatchers live along coastlines in many parts of the world, except the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

Oystercatchers are shorebirds with long, strong, orange or red bills. They use their bills to pry open mussels, oysters, and other shellfish. They also eat crabs, worms, and other small marine animals.

Most species have black, brown, and white plumage. Males and females look very similar.

Oystercatchers nest in shallow scrapes on the ground. The female usually lays 1–3 eggs, and both parents take turns incubating them. During the breeding season, oystercatchers are highly territorial and defend their nesting areas from other birds.

Species in this family include the Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani), South Island Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi), Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus), Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris), African Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), and American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus).

One species, the Canarian Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus meadewaldoi), is extinct.

Blackish Oystercatcher
(Haematopus ater)

The Blackish Oyster catcher is found along the pacific coast of South America from Peru to the tip of Chile and Argentina and north on the Atlantic side to Uruguay. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Chatham Islands Oystercatcher
(Haematopus chathamensis)

The Chatham Islands Oystercatcher is found in the Chatham Islands in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
South Island Oystercatcher
(Haematopus finschi)

The South Island Oystercatcher is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Sooty Oystercatcher
(Haematopus fuliginosus)

The Sooty Oystercatcher is found in Australia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Magellanic Oystercatcher
(Haematopus leucopodus)

The Magellanic Oystercatcher is found in Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern South America. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Pied Oystercatcher
(Haematopus longirostris)

The Pied Oyster catcher is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern Asia Australia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Canarian Oystercatcher
(Haematopus meadewaldoi)

The Canarian Oystercatcher is also known as the Canary Islands Oystercatcher. It was once found on Spain’s Canary Islands. It has been considered an extinct species since the 1940s. IUCN Redlist Status: Extinct
African Oystercatcher
(Haematopus moquini)

The African Oystercatcher is found in Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Eurasian Oystercatcher
(Haematopus ostralegus)

The Eurasian Oystercatcher is found throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
American Oystercatcher
(Haematopus palliatus)

The American Oystercatcher is found along the Atlantic Coast from southern New England south to South America. It is also found in the Gulf Coast and on the Pacific Coast north to Southern California. It is the largest shorebird in the Americas. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Variable Oystercatcher
(Haematopus unicolor)

The Variable Oystercatcher is found in New Zealand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern