African black oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)

A large dumpy, unmistakable wader with its jet-black body, short pink legs and bright orange-red bill and eyes.
Birds occasionally have white patches on the belly or entire plumage dove-grey.
Male’s bill averages shorter and less pointed than female’s.
Juvenile is duller, faintly buff-scaled. Bill duller with brown tip and greyish-pinkish legs.

42 – 45 cm. 580 – 820 g. Wingspan 84 cm.

Usually found in territorial pairs, but can also roost in flocks of 20 – 100 birds. Occurs on rocky and sandy shores, as well as estuaries. Particularly abundant on islands on the West Coast. Global population is estimated at 6,600 birds.
Feeds largely on mussels and limpets, but also on worms and whelks, scissoring the flesh from the shells of molluscs with its flattened bill. Where this species is abundant, such as on offshore islands, it has an important effect on the ecology of the rocky shores: by substantially reducing the densities of limpets, it allows algal beds to develop, which support other invertebrates, which are in turn eaten by smaller waders.
Lays its eggs in a scraped hollow on the shore. The eggs and chicks are extremely well camouflaged, which, ironically, increases their chances of being accidentally damaged by off-road vehicles driven along beaches.

Two Oceans: A Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa (2017).

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