Blackish Oystercatcher
Haematopus ater
Silhouette: terngirl · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
- FamilyHaematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
- GenusHaematopus (Oystercatchers)
- SpeciesHaematopus ater (Blackish Oystercatcher)
About the Blackish Oystercatcher
The blackish oystercatcher (Haematopus ater) is a species of wading bird in the oystercatcher family Haematopodidae. It is found in Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands and Peru, and is a vagrant to Uruguay. The population is estimated at 15,000–80,000.
The blackish oystercatcher's plumage is slaty-black with wings and back rather dark brown. The long bill is blood-red and the legs are white. The sexes are similar in appearance. The bird is easily overlooked on a rocky shore, its dark colour blending with the rocks on which it walks as it forages, and it does not draw attention to itself. Its presence, however, can easily be detected by its loud and distinctive warning calls. Its song, when given in duet, consists of an excited chatter of piping whistles. Calls include notes that sound like "pip" and "peeeeyeeee".
The blackish oystercatcher is native to the coasts of Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands and Peru, and it is a vagrant to Uruguay. Its natural habitats are rocky shores. It feeds in the intertidal zone on rocky shorelines, in rockpools and on pebble beaches. Rarely, it can be found on sandy beaches hunting for mole crabs... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Blackish Oystercatcher in Paracas National Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Paracas National Reserve
American Oystercatcher
Haematopus palliatus
Belcher's Gull
Larus belcheri
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Numenius hudsonicus
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
Dominican Gull
Larus dominicanus
Grey-hooded Gull
Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
Grey Gull
Leucophaeus modestus
Inca Tern
Larosterna inca
Black Skimmer
Rynchops niger
Black-bellied Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
Elegant Tern
Thalasseus elegans
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Península Valdés | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 2 | Paracas National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 3 | Tierra del Fuego National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Blackish Oystercatcher in Paracas National Reserve?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Blackish Oystercatcher sighting in Paracas National Reserve, based on 271 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Blackish Oystercatcher in Paracas National Reserve?
June has the highest sighting rate for Blackish Oystercatcher in Paracas National Reserve in our monthly data.