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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	South Island Oystercatcher	Sooty Oystercatcher
Scientific Name	Haematopus finschi	Haematopus fuliginosus
Order	Charadriiformes	Charadriiformes
Family	Haematopodidae	Haematopodidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern
Length	—	—
Wingspan	50.4 cm (19.8 in)	56.6 cm (22.3 in)
Weight	534.25 g (18.85 oz)	737.4 g (26.01 oz)
Diet	--	--
Clutch Size	1-3	2-4
Population Trend	—	—

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

🏖️ Coastal

South Island Oystercatcher only

🌾 Grassland 🌿 Wetland

Sooty Oystercatcher only

None

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

South Island Oystercatcher

Least Concern

Sooty Oystercatcher

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #} {# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

About These Birds

South Island Oystercatcher

South Island Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi) is a large 44–49 cm oystercatcher endemic to New Zealand. Black above, white below; orange-red bill; pinkish legs. Breeds on braided riverbeds of South Island; winters on North Island and Stewart Island tidal flats. The only New Zealand oystercatcher that migrates between islands.

Sooty Oystercatcher

Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus) is a large 40–47 cm all-black oystercatcher of Australian coastlines. Uniform sooty-black plumage; orange-red bill; pinkish legs. Inhabits rocky coasts, offshore islands, and rocky headlands around the entire Australian continent. Feeds on molluscs, echinoderms, and worms.

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