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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	Chatham Islands Oystercatcher	Variable Oystercatcher
Scientific Name	Haematopus chathamensis	Haematopus unicolor
Order	Charadriiformes	Charadriiformes
Family	Haematopodidae	Haematopodidae
Conservation Status	Endangered	Least Concern
Length	—	—
Wingspan	50.4 cm (19.8 in)	54.1 cm (21.3 in)
Weight	580.0 g (20.46 oz)	683.1666666666666 g (24.10 oz)
Diet	--	--
Clutch Size	2-3	2-3
Population Trend	—	—

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

🏖️ Coastal

Chatham Islands Oystercatcher only

None

Variable Oystercatcher only

None

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Conservation Status

Endangered

Chatham Islands Oystercatcher

Least Concern

Variable Oystercatcher

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About These Birds

Chatham Islands Oystercatcher

Chatham Islands Oystercatcher (Haematopus chathamensis) is a large 47–49 cm oystercatcher endemic to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. Black and white patterning; orange-red bill; pink legs. Critically Endangered; world population only ~440 birds. Inhabits rocky shores and sandy beaches on the Chatham Islands.

Variable Oystercatcher

Variable Oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor) is a large 46–49 cm oystercatcher endemic to New Zealand's coastline. Plumage ranges from all-black to pied (black and white) within the same population. Orange-red bill; pink legs. Inhabits rocky and sandy shores around both main islands and offshore islands. Feeds on bivalves, worms, and crustaceans.

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