Common Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus (Linnaeus, 1758)

2012-05-09 Sorbulak, Almaty oblast.	© Askar Isabekov

Distribution

Breeds in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of Kazakhstan, and also in the deserts of Southern Trans-Balkhash area, in the valleys of Syrdaria and Chu rivers, and on Mangyshlak on coast of Caspain Sea. Please see also the section Subspecies.

Biology

Rare breeding migrant. Inhabits the sandy and pebbly shores and islands, saline-soil shores with rare vegetation, stony islands on the rivers and lakes. In spring arrives from the early March to end of April (or in early May in northern areas) singly, in pairs or in small groups of 3-5 birds. Intensive flight was observed near Aralsk town where the flocks of 50-70 birds were not rare. Migration finishes in mid – end May. Breeds in separate pairs not close one pair to another (from several hundred meters to 1-2 km apart). Nest is located in the shallow hole on the sandy, saline-soil, pebbly shore; hole is sometimes lined with several dry grass stems. Clutch of 2-3 (rare 4) eggs is produced from the end of April to early June. Both parents incubate for about 27 days, and care for juveniles which hatch in June and begin to fly in end June – July. Re-nesting after loss of first clutch on account of flooding was observed. The autumn migration begins in August in flocks of up to 50-70 birds, most birds disappear in September.

Subspecies

Haematopus ostralegus longipes (Buturlin, 1910) Description. Black on head, neck, upper mantle is with brownish tinge. Bill is shorter than buturlini. Wing length: males 243-265 (253), females 244-269 (256) mm; bill length: males 70.6-80.0 (75.8), females 80.0-89.5 (84.1) mm. Distribution. Breeds in forest-steppe and steppe zones of Kazakhstan. On migration occurs everywhere. Vagrants observed on Markakol lake 26 August 1978, 9 June 1980 and 17-22 May 1981.

Haematopus ostralegus buturlini (Dementiev, 1941) Description. Black on head, neck, upper mantle is with brownish tinge, slightly lighter than in longipes. Bill is longer than in longipes. Wing length: males 241-257 (251), females 252-261 (255) mm; bill length: males 79.8-87.6 (85.9), females 92.0-103.0 (97.1) mm. Distribution. Breeds in desert zone of Kazakhstan.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999.