498 GAME BIBDS OF CALIFORNIA 



Black Oyster-catcher 



Haematopus hachmani Audubon 



Othek names — Bachman Oyster-catcher; Townsend's Oyster-catcher; Hae- 

 matopus niger; Haematopus ater; Haematopus townsendi. 



Description — Adults, hath sexes, at all seasons: Whole head, neck and breast, 

 black; rest of plumage dark brown, very slightly paler on under surface, 

 darker on tips of wing and tail; feathers of belly often tipped narrowly with 

 white; edges of eyelids bright red; bill " vermillion " ; iris "yellow"; legs 

 and feet "pale flesh color" (Sanford, Bishop and Van Dyke, 1903, p. 494). 

 Males: Total length 16.75-18.40 inches (425—467 mm.) (four specimens from 

 California and Lower California); folded wing 9.34-10.05 (237-255); bill 

 along culmen 2.42-2.87 (61.5-72.9) ; tarsus 1.94-2.15 (49.3-54.6) (ten specimens 

 from California and Alaska). Females: Folded wing 9.56-10.35 (243-263); 

 bill along culmen 2.73-3.01 (69.4-76.5) ; tarsus 1.97-2.18 (50.1-^55.5) (nine speci- 

 mens from California and Alaska). Juvenile plumage: Like that of adult, but 

 with feathers of back and outer surface of wing sparingly tipped with pale 

 tawny brown; white tippings on feathers of lower abdomen lacking; bill 

 blackish toward tip. Natal plumage : Upper surface mixed light drab and black- 

 ish in fine pattern; indistinct streak through eye, two lines down middle of 

 back meeting on rump, and tail, black; under surface dull grayish, darkest 

 on throat and lightest on middle of belly; whole plumage presenting a pepper- 

 and-salt effect. 



Marks for field identification — Large size (near that of Hudsonian Cur- 

 lew), long, stout and straight, red bill (fig. 80), wholly blackish-appearing 

 plumage, light colored legs, and entire lack of distinct white markings. 



Voice — A peculiar low whistle (Nelson, 1887, p. 130); harsh, vociferous cries 

 (Henshaw, 1876, p. 270). 



Nest — On small rocky islets, usually but a short distance from a larger 

 island or the mainland; often but a few feet above the high water mark; a 

 shallow depression in the rock surface or thin soil, with the addition of a few 

 pebbles, bits of shell, or even sharp fragments of rook; no lining of grasses 

 or other vegetable matter. 



Eggs — 2 to 3, rarely 4, ovate in shape, and measuring in inches, 2.08 to 2.38 

 by 1.45 to 1.58 (in millimeters, 52.8 to 60.4 by 36.8 to 40.2); ground-color 

 grayish olive to greenish, superficial spots of black and dark brown; deeper- 

 lying markings lavender (Willett, 1909, p. 187). 



General distribution — Pacific coast of North America. Breeds from Prince 

 William Sound, Alaska, west throughout the Aleutian Islands, and south to 

 central Lower California (Abreojos Point). There are no winter records north 

 of southern British Columbia, and there is one winter occurrence reported from 

 La Paz, extreme southern Lower California, so that a partial migration may 

 possibly take place (modified from A. O. XJ. Check-list, 1910, p. 133; W. E. 

 Bryant, 1889, p. 276). 



Distribution in California — Common resident locally coastwise, chiefly 

 on rocky off-shore islets. Recorded north to Trinidad, Humboldt County, but 

 most common on the central part of oiir coast and around the Santa Barbara 

 Islands. Recorded as breeding on the latter south to Santa Barbara Island, 

 and to the northward to Seal Rocks near Cypress Point, Monterey County; 

 may be expected to breed in suitable localities farther to the northward. 



