Ostrero Negro Africano

Identificación

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, very similar to Eurasian oystercatchers. As the Eurasian oystercatcher is a migratory species they only occur as a vagrant in southern Africa, and its black-and-white plumage makes confusion impossible.<p>Body Length: 42–45 cm (17–18 in)Wingspan: 80 and 88 cm (31 and 35 in)Mass: ♂ 665 g (1.466 lb) ♀ 730 g (1.61 lb)Tarsus: 50.6 to 60.8 mm (1.99 to 2.39 in)Culmen: 57.7 to 79.1 cm (22.7 to 31.1 in)

Taxonomía

Género: Haematopus; familia: Haematopodidae; orden: Charadriiformes.

Nombre científico

Haematopus moquini

Autoridad

Bonaparte, 1856

Orden

Charadriiformes

Familia

Haematopódidos

Género

Haematopus

Distribución y hábitat

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.<p>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.

Área de cría

AF : coastal n Namibia to Kwa-Zulu Natal (s Africa)

Área no reproductiva

to coastal s Angola

Migración

Especie residente

Comportamiento

Patrón migratorio: Especie residente.

Conservación

Tendencia poblacional: en aumento.

Tendencia poblacional

en aumento