VOC
Haematopus unicolor
Silhouette: terngirl · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
- FamilyHaematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
- GenusHaematopus (Oystercatchers)
- SpeciesHaematopus unicolor (VOC)
About the VOC
The variable oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor) is a species of wader in the family Haematopodidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. The Māori name is tōrea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'. "Variable" refers to the frontal plumage, which ranges from pied through mottled to all black. They are polymorphic meaning they have different genetic variants. These color differences are attributed to the latitude of the habitat, where the northernmost oystercatchers have significantly more white on their bodies than those of southern origin. All Stewart Island variable oystercatchers are black. They have pink legs, an orange eye ring and orange-red beaks. Similar to a needle in shape, the bill is thin and long, and darkens to a deep red color during the breeding season. Males are around 678 grams and females slightly larger at around 724 grams. Length of individuals range from 42 to 47 cm from beak to tail and have a short, sturdy body with a thick neck.
Variables can be identified as they are slightly larger than the South Island pied oystercatcher (SIPO are around 550 grams). Occasionally completely black, but if they are pied (black and white) they can be easily confused... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of VOC in Rakiura National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Rakiura National Park
South Island Pied Oystercatcher
Haematopus finschi
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Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
Dominican Gull
Larus dominicanus
White-fronted Tern
Sterna striata
Black-fronted Tern
Chlidonias albostriatus
Brown Skua
Stercorarius antarcticus
Black-billed Gull
Chroicocephalus bulleri
Masked Lapwing
Vanellus miles
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponica
Snares Island Snipe
Coenocorypha huegeli
Antarctic Tern
Sterna vittata
White-headed Stilt
Himantopus leucocephalus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a VOC in Rakiura National Park?
About 80% of wildlife watchers report a VOC sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 2,074 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see VOC in Rakiura National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for VOC in Rakiura National Park in our monthly data.