Canary Islands Oystercatcher

The Canary Islands oystercatcher, also known as the Canarian oystercatcher or Canarian black oystercatcher (Haematopus meadewaldoi), was a shorebird endemic to the Canary Islands, specifically Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and their offshore islets. This bird, now extinct, was similar in size to its relatives, the African and Eurasian oystercatchers, measuring approximately 40–45 cm in length.

Identification Tips

The Canary Islands oystercatcher bore a striking resemblance to the African oystercatcher, with a glossy black plumage save for potentially whitish underwing bases in fresh plumage. It had a reddish-orange bill, laterally compressed with a blunt, lighter tip, and a narrow naked ring around the red eye. Its legs and feet were dark pink with ivory-colored nails. The bill of the male was about 70–80 mm long, with the female's being slightly longer, and the wings spanned 250–265 mm.

Habitat

This species was likely a bird of the rocky shore rather than sandy beaches, possibly due to human activity driving it from the latter. It tended to avoid humans and was known to feed on small molluscs and crustaceans along the rocky intertidal zones.

Distribution

The Canary Islands oystercatcher was endemic to the eastern Canary Islands and did not breed or stray outside this region in historic times.

Behaviour

The oystercatcher was a resident bird, territorial during the breeding season and more vagrant at other times. It was not known to form large groups. Locals referred to it by various names, including "sea raven" and "limpet-eater," indicative of its diet and coastal habits.

Song & Calls

Its vocalizations included a repeated 'kvirr' or 'kvik-kvikkvik' and an alarm call of 'peepe-peepe peepe-peepe'.

Breeding

The Canary Islands oystercatcher laid its eggs in a scrape on the seaside, often in secluded spots. Courtship involved a unique "dancing" display by males. The species was likely monogamous, with clutch size and egg appearance undocumented but assumed to be camouflaged and possibly dark to match the volcanic rock habitat.

Extinction

The Canary Islands oystercatcher was last collected in 1913 and reported to have disappeared around 1940. It was officially declared extinct in 1994. Over-harvesting of intertidal invertebrates, human disturbance, predation by introduced species, and direct hunting contributed to its decline.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List declared the Canary Islands oystercatcher extinct as of 1950.

In the voice of David Attenborough: "The Canary Islands oystercatcher, a bird that once graced the rocky shores of its namesake archipelago, is a poignant reminder of the fragility of island ecosystems. Its disappearance serves as a stark warning of the consequences of human impact on our planet's remarkable biodiversity."