- South Island Pied Oystercatcher
Taxobox
name = South Island Pied Oystercatcher
status = LC
status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Charadriiformes
familia =Haematopodidae
genus = "Haematopus"
species = "H. finschi"
binomial = " Haematopus finschi "
binomial_authority = Martens,GH, 1897The South Island Pied Oystercatcher ("Haematopus finschi"), often contracted to the acronym SIPO (to rhyme with “typo”), is one of the two common oystercatchers found in
New Zealand .Description
Easily identifiable as a pied oystercatcher – a large wader with striking black and white plumage, long red-orange bill and red legs. Distinguish from pied morph of
Variable Oystercatcher by white lower back, more white on wing and demarcation line of black and white on breast further forward. Distinguish fromPied Oystercatcher by longer bill and shorter legs as well as forward demarcation line of white on back being pointed rather than square. Measurements: length 46 cm; wingspan 80-86 cm; weight 550 g.Marchant, S.; Higgins, P.J.; & Davies, J.N. (eds). (1994). "Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 2: Raptors to Lapwings". Oxford University Press: Melbourne. ISBN 0-19-553069-1]Distribution and habitat
The South Island Pied Oysrercatcher is endemic to New Zealand where it breeds inland on the
South Island , after which most of the population moves to estuaries and harbours on theNorth Island . It has been recorded occasionally as a vagrant onNorfolk Island ,Lord Howe Island and the eastern coast of mainlandAustralia . Its breeding habitat comprisesbraided river systems, open paddocks and cultivated land, lake beaches,subalpine tundra and herbfields. Non-breeding habitat includes coastal estuaries, bays, beaches, sandflats andintertidal mudflat s.Behaviour
Food
Mainly molluscs and worms.
Voice
Piping calls, used socially and aggressively; also piercing alarm call and a quiet flight call.
Breeding
Nests in sand scrapes on farmland or gravel banks in braided rivers. Clutch usually 2, sometimes 3, brown eggs, blotched dark and pale brown. Incubation period 24-28 days, with both sexes incubating. Young
precocial andnidifugous ; fledging 6 weeks after hatching.Conservation
The population of this species declined, mainly because of hunting, during the late 19th century and early 20th century but, with legal protection since 1940, has since been increasing. In 2002 the total population was estimated to be 110,000. Its conservation status is of
Least Concern .BirdLife International. (2006). Species factsheet: "Haematopus finschi". Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 12 February 2007]References
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