eastern cape scuba diving
| |
|
<<< BACK
| Scientific name: |
Haematopus moguini |
|
| Common name: |
African Black Oystercatcher |
|
| Taxonomy |
| Phyulm |
Sub Phylum |
Class |
Sub Class |
Order |
Sub Order |
Family |
Sub Family |
Genus |
Species |
| Chordata |
Vertebrata |
Aves |
Neornithes |
Charadriiformes |
Charadrii |
Haematopodidae |
Haematopodinae |
Haematopus |
Haematopus moguini |
|
|
Short Description:
The African oystercatcher is a large, noisy wader, with completely black plumage, red legs and a strong broad red bill. The sexes are similar in appearance, however, females are larger and have a slightly longer beak than males. Juveniles have soft grey plumage and do not express the characteristic red legs and beak until after they fledged. The call is a distinctive loud piping, |
Identification
features: |
Completely black plumage, red legs and a strong broad red bill |
| Size: |
42–45 cm |
| Behaviour: |
Typically sedentary African oystercatchers rarely leave their territories, which include a nesting site and feeding grounds. These will usually be located on or near rocky shores where they can feed. |
| Diet: |
predominantly feed on molluscs such as mussels and limpets, although are known to also feed on polychaetes, insects and potentially even fish. |
| Distribution: |
The African oystercatcher is native to the mainland coasts and offshore islands of Southern Africa sometimes occurring as a vagrant in Angola and Mozambique. Its breeding range extends from Lüderitz, Namibia to Mazeppa Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa. There are estimated to be over 6,000 adult birds in total |
| Habitat: |
Estuaries and beaches. |
| Reference: |
- Two Oceans
(A guide to the marine life of Southern Africa)
GM Branch;CL Griffiths;ML Branch;LE Beckley
|
| Similar Species: |
|
|
Database Statistics
(Click on the links for more information) |
|
|
|
|
|
eastern cape scuba diving
001.jpg){kind=link}
002.jpg){kind=link}
003.jpg){kind=link}
004.jpg){kind=link}
005.jpg){kind=link}