African Oystercatcher
Haematopus moquini
Least ConcernAves · Charadriiformes · Haematopodidae
About
The African oystercatcher or African black oystercatcher is a large charismatic wader resident to the mainland coasts and offshore islands of southern Africa. This oystercatcher has a population of over 6,000 adults, which breed between November and April. The scientific name moquini commemorates the French naturalist Alfred Moquin-Tandon who discovered and named this species before Bonaparte.
Fun Fact
There is one record of a vagrant from Gambia, a specimen from 1938 in the British Museum which proved to be H.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Native to the mainland coasts and offshore islands of Southern Africa.
Diet
Feed on molluscs such as mussels and limpets, although they are known to also feed on polychaetes, insects and potentially even fish.
Lifespan
35 years
Threats
- Habitat Change
- Human Disturbance