The variable oystercatcher, like its name suggests, is variable in colour from completely black to pied. They have a long orangy-red bill and eye, with pink legs.  They are slightly larger (48cm) than the pied oystercatcher (46cm).  The juvenile is brownish black and the bill is brown/black and starts to colour-up from about 3 months old.

They feed on molluscs, worms, crabs, small invertebrates and even small fish.  They use their strong beak to split open bi-valves, (shells that open and are joined by a central point), especially oysters around oyster beds, thus giving them their name.

The oystercatchers call in flight with a loud shrill 'kleep'.

Oystercatchers remain in breeding pairs all year long and often stay within the breeding territory all year.  They first breed at the age of 3.  They breed on rocky and sandy coasts making their nest, a shallow scrape, on the sandy beaches or rocky ledges.  They lay 2 or 3 eggs which are incubated for about 28 days by both sexes.  The chicks fledge at 2 days old but stay with the parents to be fed for another 3 weeks.  Although they learn to fly at 6-7 weeks old they don't leave the natal territory until about 3 months old.  The parents closely guard their young, even being known to fly at and dive bomb humans who venture too close to the natal territory!

Variable oystercatchers breed on Tiritiri Matangi.  There are 2 breeding pairs within close proximity of the wharf area, one pair on the rocks to the right of the jetty (walking from the ferry to the island) and the other pair is beyond the rocks at the end of Hobbs Beach.  They also breed on the rocky island just off the wharf.

Photography by: Dr Kerry Rodgers ©

References: Heather, B.D.; Robertson, H.A. 2000 The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, Viking.