Photo: dfaulder / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Magellanic Oystercatcher
Haematopus leucopodus
Magellanic Oystercatcher (Haematopus leucopodus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South America.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Magellanic Oystercatcher (Haematopus leucopodus) is a member of the Haematopodidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 618 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Haematopodidae Oystercatchers
- Genus Haematopus
- Species leucopodus
Where it lives
Coastal and inland south-central Chile and south-central Argentina to Cape Horn and Falkland Is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 618 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Haematopodidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Magellanic Oystercatcher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Magellanic Oystercatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Magellanic Oystercatcher (Haematopus leucopodus) belongs to the Haematopodidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA coastal and inland sc Chile and sc Argentina to Cape Horn and Falkland Is.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 618 g, with a wing length of about 25.7 cm and a tail of around 10.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 389,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Magellanic Oystercatcher?
The Magellanic Oystercatcher is a large bird that weighs around 618 g.
Where does the Magellanic Oystercatcher live?
The Magellanic Oystercatcher is found across South America with a range covering SA coastal and inland sc Chile and sc Argentina to Cape Horn and Falkland Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Magellanic Oystercatcher belong to?
The Magellanic Oystercatcher (Haematopus leucopodus) belongs to the Haematopodidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Magellanic Oystercatcher eat?
The Magellanic Oystercatcher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Magellanic Oystercatcher migrate?
The Magellanic Oystercatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Magellanic Oystercatcher endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Magellanic Oystercatcher make?
1 real field recording of the Magellanic Oystercatcher — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Magellanic Oystercatcher's range?
The Magellanic Oystercatcher has a mapped global range of about 389,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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