- Name
- African Black Oystercatcher
- Latin Name
- Haematopus moquini
- Family
- Haematopodidae
- Length
- 51 cm
- Habitat
- A resident limited to the seashore, coastal island, lagoons and estuaries.
- Bird Call
- The alarm call is a series of sharp 'pip pip pip' sounds and another call is a clear repeated 'klee-weep'.
- Breeding
- Breeding time is from October to March. One to four eggs are laid in a slight hollow lined with bits of debris or a few pieces of broken shells. The eggs are stone-coloured, with blotches varying from pale purple to dark blackish brown. Incubation 28 - 30 days. Chicks are unable to fly until about 45 days old.
- Immature Description
- Juveniles are a duller mottled brown-black with underparts whitish and legs brownish- orange.
- Adult Description
- The Oystercatcher is entirely black with red legs and an orange-tipped red bill. Wedge-like bill, which is slightly longer than the head, the mandibles do not meet at the tip and flattened, the sides compressed to form thin blades at the tip; the legs short, with only three toes. Bright red eyes surrounded by orange.
- Status
- Common resident.
- Distribution
- Widely distributed along the Cape coast, yet very sparingly in places. To be seen on rocky coasts and beaches and at lagoons and estuaries.
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