Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae)

Variable Oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor) - HBW 3, p. 324

French: Huîtrier variable German: Neuseeländischer Austernfischer Spanish: Ostrero Variable
Other common names: New Zealand Black/Sooty Oystercatcher; Northern Oystercatcher (“reischeki”)

Taxonomy: Haematopus unicolor J. R. Forster, 1844, New Zealand.
Has been considered conspecific with H. chathamensis and sometimes also with H. ostralegus. The various different morphs have been considered separate races, or even distinct species, e.g. pied morph formerly labelled “H. reischeki”; in past, H. ostralegus finschi too was considered to be a pied morph of present species. Monotypic.

Distribution: New Zealand, on coasts of North I and South I and adjacent islands.