Blackish Oystercatcher (Haematopus ater)

Order: Charadriiformes | Family: Haematopodidae  | IUCN Status: Least Concern

blackish_oystercatcher
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Paracas Peninsula, Ica

blackish_oystercatcher
Age: Juvenile | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Paracas Peninsula, Ica

blackish_oystercatcher
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Pucusana, Lima

blackish_oystercatcher
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Paracas Peninsula, Ica

Identification & Behavior: ~44.4 cm (17.4 in). The Blackish Oystercatcher is slaty-black with brownish-black wings and back. It has a long blood-red bill and pale legs. The sexes are similar in appearance. The large heavy bill is used to pry open bivalve mollusks and is similar to that of the closely related American Oystercatcher.

Status: The Blackish Oystercatcher is fairly common in rocky shores where it can be easily overlooked due to the similar coloration of the rocks it favors. It is rarely found on sandy shores and also occurs in Ch.

Name in Spanish: Ostrero Negro.

Sub-species: Blackish Oystercatcher (Haematopus ater) Vieillot & Oudart, 1825.

Meaning of Name:  Haematopus: Gr. haima= blood; pous= foot. ater: L. dark black. A bird with red feet and black plumage.

Go to the Family Haematopodidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
Blackish Oystercatcher - Haematopus aterVoice

References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo), The Field Museum. http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 10/18/2014.