Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae)
Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus) - HBW 3, p. 324
French: Huîtrier fuligineux
German: Rußausternfischer
Spanish: Ostrero Negro Australiano
Other common names: Spectacled Oystercatcher (opthalmicus)
Taxonomy: Haematopus fuliginosus Gould, 1845, Tasmania.
Occasional hybridization recorded with H. longirostris. Form opthalmicus generally considered to be a race of present species, based on a putative region of intergrading with nominate fuliginosus in W Australia, where both taxa are rare, but no good evidence of interbreeding; also, some confusion regarding range limits of both forms, with opthalmicus usually said to be restricted to Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape York Peninsula; striking differences in eye-ring colour suggest that opthalmicus may well be a distinct species; field and laboratory research requir.. View all taxonomy...
Occasional hybridization recorded with H. longirostris. Form opthalmicus generally considered to be a race of present species, based on a putative region of intergrading with nominate fuliginosus in W Australia, where both taxa are rare, but no good evidence of interbreeding; also, some confusion regarding range limits of both forms, with opthalmicus usually said to be restricted to Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape York Peninsula; striking differences in eye-ring colour suggest that opthalmicus may well be a distinct species; field and laboratory research required, in order to clarify this case (see page 309); emendation of name to ophthalmicus is not justified. Two subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- opthalmicus Castelnau & Ramsay, 1877 - coast and islands of N Australia from Shark Bay (CW Western Australia) to Lady Elliot I (SE Queensland).
- fuliginosus Gould, 1845 - coast and islands of Australia, from Houtman Abrolhos Is (CW Western Australia) round S coast and up E coast to about Brisbane (SE Queensland); Tasmania.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A bird sitting in a rock pool and bathing, before being joined by a second bird Locality Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia (ssp fuliginosus)
Nick Talbot 28 April 2006 4 years ago 11 sec 4 -
Two individuals feeding in the shore, with a Silver Gull attending Locality Werribee, Victoria, Australia (ssp fuliginosus)
Geoffrey Dabb 30 September 2006 4 years ago 31 sec 3.9 -
Two adults on the rocks Locality Mooloolabah, Queensland, Australia (ssp fuliginosus)
Tom Tarrant 29 February 1996 6 years ago 20 sec 3.7 -
An adult bird foraging along the bayshore Locality Werribee, Victoria, Australia (ssp fuliginosus)
Geoffrey Dabb 30 September 2006 4 years ago 23 sec 3.7 -
A close-up of two birds Locality William Bay National Park, Western Australia, Australia (ssp fuliginosus)
Philip Griffin 8 January 2005 6 years ago 18 sec 3.6 -
A bird feeding on a rock Locality Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia (ssp fuliginosus)
Nick Talbot 24 April 2007 4 years ago 12 sec 3.5
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Feeding on the beach
Locality Goolwa, South Australia, Australia
Peter Strauss 16 April 2011 42 weeks ago 4.5 -
Perched on a rock wall
Locality Narooma, New South Wales, Australia
Lindsay Hansch 4 November 2009 44 weeks ago 3.7 -
Adult feeding on the beach
Locality Goolwa, South Australia, Australia
Peter Strauss 21 April 2011 42 weeks ago 3.6 -
Two birds feeding on the shore
Locality Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (ssp fuliginosus)
Arthur Grosset 12 February 2006 2 years ago 3.5 -
An adult foraging.
Locality Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia (ssp fuliginosus)
Arnie Hollyman 27 January 2011 1 year ago 3.4 -
An adult preening its wing
Locality South Durras, New South Wales, Australia (ssp fuliginosis)
Nick Talbot 13 January 2007 2 years ago 3.3
- No sound recordings available yet
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