SOUTH ISLAND OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus finschi

Recently split into two species, this the antipodean equivalent of Eurasian Oystercatcher. Pied is the Australian one, whilst the New Zealand taxon is known as South Island Oystercatcher. Distinguishing them in the field is really only possible in flight, when SIPO has a more prominent white wingbar, although vagrants do occur many must be overlooked. The right hand shot shows a juvenile, note the difference in bare-parts colour.

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