Except for a variable amount of white tipping to belly and flank feathers in fresh basic plumage, Black Oystercatchers show little variation. Fresh basic plumage (right; a Nov photo) is a soft, glossy black. As winter progresses into spring, the back and wings can fade to dark brown (above; a March photo). The white tips on the flank and belly feathers wear and become less noticeable by mid-winter (below, right-hand photo of bowing bird; a January shot). In adults there is a partial molt in Apr-May (extent varies by latitude) and a complete molt July-September (Webster 1942).

The mating shot (above) was taken 10 March 2004 at Pt. Pinos [© Don Roberson]. Our Atlas data noted eggs by early May and fledglings from mid-June to mid-August. This phenology is consistent with that on the Farallones, where egg-laying is in May, hatching in June-August, and fledglings mid-July to early October (Sowls et al. 1980).

Although most of our local oystercatchers seem to maintain territories much of the year, in winter or after storms unusual concentrations can be encountered. My single high count for a roosting group was 19 at Pt. Pinos on 23 Dec 2000. MTY oystercatchers are considered resident, but a banded bird at Pt. Pinos 23 Nov 1975 may have been ringed on the Farallones since no banding was known to have occurred locally. There clearly is some limited movement: a small flock of 12 was seen flying south past the Pajaro R. mouth 6 Oct 2002 (Kumaran Arulanantham) is the only report along the sandy shores of north MTY.

• 3 Apr 1954 Pt. Lobos
• 2-6 Apr 1955 Pebble Beach [maybe same bird as reported the prior spring?]
• 7 Jan 2003 Pt. Lobos