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Project Noah Nature School
Haematopus ater
An all black oystercatcher found in Peru, Chile, Argentina and the Falklands. Can be difficult to spot as its plumage is surprisingly good at camouflaging the bird on a rocky shoreline. Will issue a piping warning call when it feels threatened. It is much less common than the more conspicuous Magellanic Oystercatcher (http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/179...). Known locally as the black curlew (another wading bird of little relation!). Not to be confused with the Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani, that is found in western North America.
Found on rocky and shingle beaches and around tide pools. Very rarely found on sandy beaches.
Only saw one of these in my whole time on the Falklands, and it was pretty shy. Spotted along the coast as I walked into Stanley from the harbour.
Spotted on Jan 8, 2013
Submitted on Feb 19, 2013
2 Comments
Lovely!
Beautiful!