Pied Oystercatcher
Haematopus longirostris
Silhouette: terngirl · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
- FamilyHaematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
- GenusHaematopus (Oystercatchers)
- SpeciesHaematopus longirostris (Pied Oystercatcher)
About the Pied Oystercatcher
The pied oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris) is a species of oystercatcher. It is a wading bird native to Australia and commonly found on its coastline. The similar South Island pied oystercatcher (H. finschi) occurs in New Zealand.
The name "oystercatcher" is something of a misnomer for this species, because they seldom eat oysters, which are found mainly on rocky coastlines. Pied oystercatchers frequent sandy coastlines, where they feed mainly on bivalve molluscs, which are prised apart with their specially adapted bill. These adaptations allow the Pied oystercatchers to slip their bills between the ventral edges of these shelled organisms, further allowing them to sever the shells and reach the edible flesh inside.
This Australian species is easily recognized by the characteristic 5–8 cm long orange-red beak, slender pink legs and black and white plumage. With the wings extended, a white wing-stripe is also visible. The male and female show little differentiation, except that the males generally sport a shorter, wider beak.
Pied oystercatchers are most commonly observed to feed in pairs, or small flocks, concentrating hunting efforts on a single... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Pied Oystercatcher in Wilsons Promontory National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Wilsons Promontory National Park
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Haematopus fuliginosus
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Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
Pacific Gull
Larus pacificus
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Crested Tern
Thalasseus bergii
Hooded Plover
Thinornis cucullatus
Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
Dominican Gull
Larus dominicanus
Red-necked Stint
Calidris ruficollis
Parasitic Jaeger
Stercorarius parasiticus
Fairy Tern
Sternula nereis
Little Tern
Sternula albifrons
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maria Island National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Freycinet National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Cape Range | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 10 | Noosa National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Flinders Chase | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Pied Oystercatcher in Wilsons Promontory National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Pied Oystercatcher sighting in Wilsons Promontory National Park, based on 27 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Pied Oystercatcher in Wilsons Promontory National Park?
January has the highest sighting rate for Pied Oystercatcher in Wilsons Promontory National Park in our monthly data.