BirdUp · Species
Sooty Oystercatcher
Haematopus fuliginosusGould, 1845
- Order
- CHARADRIIFORMES
- Family
- Haematopodidae
- Genus
- Haematopus
At a glance
The Sooty Oystercatcher is a large bird, about 40–52 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.
- Size
- 40–52 cm
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
- Origin
- Endemic
- Best seen
- Year-round
- Commonness
- Endemic
01 · Identification
How to tell it apart
What does a Sooty Oystercatcher look like?
The Sooty Oystercatcher is a large bird, about 40–52 cm long and weighing 600–980 g.
The sooty oystercatcher is a species of oystercatcher. It is a wading bird endemic to Australia and commonly found on its coastline. It prefers rocky coastlines, but will occasionally live in estuaries. All of its feathers are black. It has a red eye, eye ring and bill, and pink legs.
Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
03 · When
When to look
When can you see a Sooty Oystercatcher?
The Sooty Oystercatcher is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
05 · Behaviour
Habits and haunts
What does a Sooty Oystercatcher eat?
The Sooty Oystercatcher feeds on intertidal invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.
The BirdUp app
Log your next Sooty Oystercatcher in the field
A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.