South Island pied oystercatcher

Status: Declining (click to see what this means)

South Island pied oystercatcher (SIPO), Rangitata River

Braided river status

Seen throughout New Zealand. They usually breed August-January inland in the South Island, mainly east of the Southern Alps on riverbeds and farmland, in sand scrapes on farmland or gravel banks in braided rivers. They are also known to breed on high country grasslands and in coastal areas adjacent to estuaries and lagoons where they are also found during the non-breeding season (distribution map).

Recent observations

Hover your cursor over thumbnails below to see the latest observations (newest left). Click on thumbnails for more information including the location (opens in the NatureWatchNZ website).

Description 

One of two species of oystercatcher in New Zealand, the endemic South Island pied oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi) is also known as the New Zealand pied oystercatcher, Finsch’s oystercatcher, tōrea, torea (Māori), and SIPO. In coastal areas they are commonly seen feeding in bivalves (hence their name), small crustaceans, cnidarians (jellyfish) and fish. Further inlands they have been seen feeding on worms and small beetles.

South Island pied oystercatcher eating bivalve

Plumage

Measuring 46cm long and weighing between 550gm, the SIPO is a large, solidly built wading bird with a black back, head, and wings, with a clear delineation marking the white breast, a long bright orange bill, orange eyes, and stocky pink legs. The sexes are similar. Juveniles have a brownish tinge to their plumage, dusky red bill and dull pink legs.

South Island pied oystercatcher defensive display

Eggs

Their eggs are blotched dark and pale brown. See Taera for an image of their simple nest and eggs and to hear their call.

Conservation activities

• The Flock
• See threats. While numbers are declining, no species-specific conservation projects are currently underway
• Canterbury Pest Management Strategy
• DOC 200 traps for sale (fundraiser for Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group)
• Predator trap instructions for DOC 150, 200 and 250 traps (for ferrets, stoats, rats, and hedgehogs)

More information

• NZ Birds online (includes photos and sounds)
• NZ Birds
• NatureWatchNZ

Research papers

• Felton et al (2018) Response of beach-nesting American Oystercatchers to off-road vehicles: An experimental approach reveals physiological nuances and decreased nest attendance, BioOne/American Ornithology
• Dowding & Moore (2006) Habitat networks of indigenous shorebirds in New Zealand,  SCIENCE FOR CONSERVATION 261 (DOC open access PDF part 1 and PDF part 2)