African Black Oystercatcher

Afrikaans name: Swarttobie

Photo © EcoView - Fotolia.com

Haematopus moquini

The African Black Oystercatcher is an attractive bird that is only found along the coastline of southern Africa, including the offshore islands.

Both male and female are black with red legs and bill. Juveniles are more grey and their legs and bills only turn red as they grow older.

They have a bodly length of just over 40 cm and they weigh around 700 grams with females being heavier than males.

The main food items of this bird are mussels and limpets although it has been recorded feeding on insects and catching fish.

They live an amazingly long life of up to 35 years.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	231	Haematopus moquini
2nd	231	Haematopus moquini
3rd	231	Haematopus moquini
4th	231	Haematopus moquini
5th	244	Haematopus moquini
6th	244	Haematopus moquini
7th	274	Haematopus moquini

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	231	Black Oyster-catcher
2nd	231	Black Oystercatcher
3rd	231	Black Oystercatcher
4th	231	Black Oystercatcher
5th	244	African Black Oystercatcher
6th	244	African Black Oystercatcher
7th	274	African Oystercatcher

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	231	Tobie
2nd	231	Oestervanger
3rd	231	Tobie
4th	231	Tobie
5th	244	Swarttobie
6th	244	Swarttobie
7th	274	Swarttobie

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 80

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 42

Wild Issue 49 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 76

Wild Issue 33 - Author: - Published: 2015 - Page: 14

Two Oceans - Author: Branch, Griffiths, Branch and Beckley - Published: 2010 - Page: 348

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Published: 1989 - Page: 142

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 97

The Coastal Guide of South Africa - Author: Jacana Media - Published: 2007 - Page: 100

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 67

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 137

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 15

Shorebirds - Author: P. Hayman, J. Marchant, T. Prater - Published: 1986 - Page: 226

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 158

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 162

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 218

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 216

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 164

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 156

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 114

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 124

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 124

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 124

Nature in the Balance - Author: Rob Marsh - Published: 1991 - Page: 33

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 410

Field Guide to the West Coast - Author: H. Marshall and B. Mommsen - Published: 1994 - Page: 95

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 116

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 27

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 92

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 55

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 77

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 143

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 109

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 143

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds