African Black Oystercatcher

Afrikaans name: Swarttobie

Photo © EcoView - Fotolia.com

Haematopus moquini

The African Black Oystercatcher is an attractive bird that is only found along the coastline of southern Africa, including the offshore islands.

Both male and female are black with red legs and bill. Juveniles are more grey and their legs and bills only turn red as they grow older.

They have a bodly length of just over 40 cm and they weigh around 700 grams with females being heavier than males.

The main food items of this bird are mussels and limpets although it has been recorded feeding on insects and catching fish.

They live an amazingly long life of up to 35 years.

References and further reading

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 42

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Published: 1989 - Page: 142

Wild Issue 33 - Author: - Published: 2015 - Page: 14

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 80

The Coastal Guide of South Africa - Author: Jacana Media - Published: 2007 - Page: 100

Two Oceans - Author: Branch, Griffiths, Branch and Beckley - Published: 2010 - Page: 348

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 97

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 137

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 15

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 67

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 162

Shorebirds - Author: P. Hayman, J. Marchant, T. Prater - Published: 1986 - Page: 226

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 158

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 218

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 216

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 156

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 164

Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southe - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Published: 1991 - Page: 410

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 124

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 124

Nature in the Balance - Author: Rob Marsh - Published: 1991 - Page: 33

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 116

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 92

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 27

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 55

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 77

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 143

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 143

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 109

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List of South African Birds