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The Eurasian oystercatcher is the lightest on average, at 526 grams (1 pound 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 ounces), while the sooty oystercatcher is the heaviest, at 819 g (1 lb 13 oz). [11] The plumage of all species is either all-black, or black (or dark brown) on top and white underneath.
The American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), occasionally called the American pied oystercatcher, is a member of family Haematopodidae. Originally called the "sea pie", it was renamed in 1731 when naturalist Mark Catesby claimed that he had observed the bird eating oysters. [ 2 ]
The African oystercatcher or African black oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini) is a large charismatic wader resident to the mainland coasts and offshore islands of southern Africa. This near-threatened oystercatcher has a population of over 6,000 adults, which breed between November and April. [ 9 ]
Incubation takes around 26–28 days. The chicks are capable of leaving the nest after one day, but stay in the territory for a long time after fledging (apx. 40 days). Fledged juveniles stay in the territory until the next breeding season. If the parents migrate, that year's chicks may migrate with them, most commonly in the north of the range.
Forty-two little tern chicks fledged during this year’s breeding season, the most recorded since 2006, according to the RSPB.
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Nest and chick predators are mainly kelp gulls, silver gulls, swamp harriers, Australian magpies, skuas, mustelids, dogs, cats and possibly rats (Marchant, 1993). The variable oystercatcher has issues with disturbance from human activity which damages nests. [11]
The population is believed to be stable; the IUCN rates the Chatham Islands oystercatcher as "Endangered", and the Department of Conservation as "Nationally Critical". [5] The main threats faced by this bird are predation, particularly by feral cats on eggs and chicks, and the cattle and sheep which roam onto the beaches and may trample the nests.