Black oystercatcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black oystercatcher |
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Haematopus
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| Species: |
bachmani
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The black oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) is a cool black bird that lives along the coasts of western North America. You can find it from the chilly Aleutian Islands in Alaska all the way down to the sunny Baja California peninsula.
This bird is the only type of oystercatcher found in most of its home range. It only shares its space a little with the American oystercatcher in Baja California. People usually just call it the black oystercatcher. Its scientific name was given by John James Audubon to honor his friend John Bachman.
Even though this bird is not considered in danger, there are only about 8,900 to 11,000 of them in the world. The black oystercatcher is an important bird for conservation efforts. It helps us understand the health of the north Pacific coast.
Contents
What Does a Black Oystercatcher Look Like?
The black oystercatcher is a large shorebird. It is completely black all over its body. It has a long, bright red bill, which is about 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) long. Its legs are pink. This bird also has a bright yellow iris and a red ring around its eye. Its feathers can look a little darker if the bird lives further north.
How Does a Black Oystercatcher Behave?
Black oystercatchers always stay close to the shore. They especially like rocky coastlines. You might see them in calmer areas, like near jetties. They search for food in the intertidal zone, which is the area between high and low tide.
What Do Black Oystercatchers Eat?
These birds eat small sea creatures called invertebrates. Their favorite foods are molluscs like mussels, limpets, and chitons. They also eat crabs, isopods, and barnacles. They look for food by sight, often very close to the water. They sometimes have to fly up to avoid big waves. They use their strong bills to pull food off rocks and open shells.
Nesting and Raising Chicks
During nesting season, black oystercatchers are very protective of their homes. They defend an area for both finding food and nesting. Some bird pairs stay together for many years. Their nests are small dips or bowls in the ground near the shore. They toss in small pebbles and shell pieces with their bills.
Female oystercatchers usually lay 2 to 3 eggs in the nest. These eggs are very tough. They can even survive if they get covered by high tide! The parents sit on the eggs for about 26 to 28 days until they hatch.
The baby chicks can leave the nest just one day after hatching. They stay in their parents' territory for a long time, even after they learn to fly (around 40 days). The young birds will stay in the territory until the next breeding season. If the parents migrate to a warmer place, their chicks will go with them. This happens more often for birds living in the northern parts of their range.
Images for kids
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A black oystercatcher nest
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Black oystercatcher in Esquimalt Lagoon, British Columbia
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Black oystercatcher in Pacific Rim National Park
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Black oystercatcher in Pacific Rim National Park
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See also
In Spanish: Ostrero negro norteamericano para niños
