Blackish oystercatcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackish oystercatcher |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Haematopus
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| Species: |
ater
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The blackish oystercatcher (Haematopus ater) is a cool wading bird. It belongs to the oystercatcher family. You can find it along the coasts of Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands, and Peru. Sometimes, it even visits Uruguay. There are about 15,000 to 80,000 of these birds in the world.
What Does It Look Like?
The blackish oystercatcher has dark, slaty-black feathers. Its wings and back are a bit darker brown. It has a long, bright red beak. Its legs are white. Both male and female birds look very similar.
This bird can be hard to spot on a rocky beach. Its dark feathers help it blend in with the rocks. This makes it hard for predators to see it. But you might hear its loud calls. These calls are a warning to other birds.
When two oystercatchers sing together, they make excited, chattering whistles. Their calls also sound like "pip" and "peeeeyeeee".
Where It Lives
The blackish oystercatcher lives along the coasts of Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands, and Peru. It sometimes travels to Uruguay. These birds love rocky shores. They search for food in the areas between high and low tide. This includes rockpools and pebble beaches.
Sometimes, you might find them on sandy beaches. There, they hunt for mole crabs.
Its Conservation Status
The IUCN says the blackish oystercatcher is a species of "Least Concern". This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing. It's not clear if their numbers are growing or shrinking. But these birds live across a very large area. Their total population is estimated to be between 15,000 and 80,000 birds.
Pictures
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A pair feeding on some shellfish
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On a rock
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Haematopus ater - MHNT
