Variable Oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor)
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Variable Oystercatcher

Haematopus unicolor Forster, JR, 1844

671 gWeight

The variable oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor) is a species of wader in the family Haematopodidae.

Busiest months: November · Most records: New Zealand

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Variable Oystercatcher has been recorded at 95 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Miranda – main hide/LimeworksNew Zealand1,236 records
  2. Tiritiri MatangiNew Zealand1,133 records
  3. Rakiura NP – Ulva IslandNew Zealand1,132 records
More places
  1. Waipu Wildlife RefugeNew Zealand867 records
  2. Stewart Island – Oban & Halfmoon BayNew Zealand809 records
  3. Kaikoura – Point Kean Seal ColonyNew Zealand751 records
  4. Tawharanui Regional ParkNew Zealand750 records
  5. Ambury Regional Park – Viewing Hide shellbankNew Zealand651 records
  6. Miranda Shorebird CentreNew Zealand650 records
  7. Ashley Estuary south endNew Zealand644 records

Countries and regions with the most records

New Zealand

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

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.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Variable Oystercatcher?

The Variable Oystercatcher weighs around 671 g.

Where does the Variable Oystercatcher live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: coastal North, South and Stewart islands (New Zealand). It is most often recorded in New Zealand.

When is the best time to see the Variable Oystercatcher?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Variable Oystercatcher endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Variable Oystercatcher as Least Concern.

What does the Variable Oystercatcher eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Variable Oystercatcher in?

It belongs to the family Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae), order Charadriiformes.

At a glance

Weight
671 g
Habitat
Coast & tidal flats
Diet
Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle
Active on the ground
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
270 mm
Tail
101 mm
Bill
85 mm
Tarsus
55 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: coastal North, South and Stewart islands (New Zealand)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Oystercatchers Haematopodidae
Genus
Haematopus

Other birds in the genus Haematopus

Magellanic OystercatcherMagellanic OystercatcherHaematopus leucopodusBlackish OystercatcherBlackish OystercatcherHaematopus aterBlack OystercatcherBlack OystercatcherHaematopus bachmaniAmerican OystercatcherAmerican OystercatcherHaematopus palliatusAfrican OystercatcherAfrican OystercatcherHaematopus moquiniEurasian OystercatcherEurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSouth Island OystercatcherSouth Island OystercatcherHaematopus finschiPied OystercatcherPied OystercatcherHaematopus longirostrisChatham Islands OystercatcherChatham Islands OystercatcherHaematopus chathamensisSooty OystercatcherSooty OystercatcherHaematopus fuliginosus
Variable Oystercatcher

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Finn Davey. ↗

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