Indicative distribution
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas.
(
click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Haematopus longirostris
Gazetted date:
12 Feb 2010
Profile last updated:
13 Oct 2021
Description
The Pied Oystercatcher is an unmistakable, large, black and white wader, reaching 50 cm in length. The sexes are similar, yet may be separable when together with the female having a slightly longer, more slender bill. When not in flight, the Pied Oystercatcher appears entirely black above, with white underparts. The back, head and breast are black, and the belly, rump and tail are white. The tail is tipped black. The wings are black with a narrow white bar on the upperwing and white underwing coverts. The eye-ring, iris and bill of the Pied Oystercatcher are brilliant scarlet and its legs are stout and coral pink. The most often heard call is a loud, sharp, high-pitched ‘kurvee-kurvee-kurvee’, usually given in alarm, which increases in pitch and rapidity when a nest site is approached. The South Island Pied Oystercatcher (H. finschi) has recently been recorded as a vagrant in NSW. This New Zealand native can be distinguished by a combination of subtle differences, including a shorter bill and legs and differences in the extent of white on the back and wings.
Distribution
The species is distributed around the entire Australian coastline, although it is most common in coastal Tasmania and parts of Victoria, such as Corner Inlet. In NSW the species is thinly scattered along the entire coast, with fewer than 200 breeding pairs estimated to occur in the State. 'Pied' Oystercatchers are occasionally recorded on Lord Howe island but it is uncertain which species is involved.
Habitat and ecology
- Favours intertidal flats of inlets and bays, open beaches and sandbanks.
- Forages on exposed sand, mud and rock at low tide, for molluscs, worms, crabs and small fish. The chisel-like bill is used to pry open or break into shells of oysters and other shellfish.
- Nests mostly on coastal or estuarine beaches although occasionally they use saltmarsh or grassy areas. Nests are shallow scrapes in sand above the high tide mark, often amongst seaweed, shells and small stones.
- Two to three eggs are laid between August and January. The female is the primary incubator and the young leave the nest within several days.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Predation of eggs and chicks by foxes.
- Disturbance of nesting shorebirds and direct mortality of eggs and chicks by trampling or removal by humans. 4WDs are a threat at some sites.
- Disturbance of nesting shorebirds and direct predation of eggs and chicks by dogs.
- Inundation of nests by high tides, storms and other flooding.
- Predation of eggs and chicks by avian predators (mostly corvids and gulls).
- Loss or degradation of habitat (e.g. nesting areas and foraging areas) due to hydrological changes in estuaries.
- Degradation of habitat due to contamination of estuaries by urban and agricultural run-off, sediment re-suspension and oil-spills.
- Reduction of nesting area due to encroachment of vegetation.
- Entanglement in or ingestion of marine debris.
- Long-term declines of a key food source, the Pipi, as a result of over-harvesting.
Recovery strategies
A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click
here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click
here
Activities to assist this species
- Undertake fox, feral cat and Australian Raven control programs.
- Assess the appropriateness of dog and cat ownership in new subdivisions.
- Manage estuaries and the surrounding landscape to ensure the natural hydrological regimes are maintained.
- Install interpretive signs at major nesting sites.
- Protect and maintain known or potential habitat, including the implementation of protection zones around known habitat sites and sites of recent records.
Information sources
- Hayman, P., Marchant, J. and Prater, T. (1986) Shorebirds. Helm Identification Guides. (Christopher Helm, London)
- Marchant, S. and Higgins, P.J. (Eds) (1993) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 2: Raptors to Lapwings. (Oxford University Press, Melbourne)
- Pringle, J.D. (1987) The Shorebirds of Australia. (Angus and Robertson, Sydney)
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