Sooty Oystercatcher

The Sooty Oystercatcher, Haematopus fuliginosus, is a striking wading bird with an entirely black plumage that contrasts vividly with its red eye, eye ring, and bill, as well as its pink legs. This robust bird is the heaviest of the oystercatcher family, with females typically larger than males.

Identification Tips

Adult Sooty Oystercatchers can be identified by their all-black feathers, pink-red legs, and scarlet to orange-red bill and eyes. Males possess shorter, thicker bills, while females have longer, thinner ones. Juveniles are distinguishable by their grey-brown legs, brown-tipped bills, and a browner plumage, with their bill, eyes, and legs turning red by their second year.

Habitat

Endemic to Australia, the Sooty Oystercatcher favors rocky coastlines but can also be found in estuarine environments.

Distribution

The species is common around Tasmania and the Bass Strait islands, with an estimated population of 11,500 individuals. The nominate race is found in southern Australia, while the subspecies ophthalmicus, with a more yellowish eye ring, inhabits northern Australia from the Kimberleys to central Queensland.

Behaviour

Sooty Oystercatchers are often seen patrolling the intertidal zone, especially during the two hours on either side of low tide. They exhibit sexual dimorphism in foraging, with females targeting soft-bodied prey and males preferring hard-shelled organisms.

Breeding

Breeding pairs lay a clutch of two to three eggs, which are buff to beige with dark brown and lavender markings. The eggs are laid in crevices, hollows, or flat ground, often in locations that allow the parents to maintain a vigilant watch.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Sooty Oystercatcher varies between sexes, with females consuming soft-bodied prey like fish, crabs, and jellyfish, and males opting for mussels, sea urchins, and various shelled creatures.

Conservation status

The Sooty Oystercatcher is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, it is considered Rare in South Australia and Queensland, Near Threatened in Victoria, and Endangered in New South Wales.