Distribution

Breeding Range

Figure 1. Along the Atlantic coast from Boston, MA (Veit and Petersen 1993) south to Indian River Co., FL (Robertson and Woolfenden 1992); and on the Gulf Coast of Florida from Lee Co. north to Gulf Co. (Robertson and Woolfenden 1992). On off shore islands of e. Louisiana (S. Cardiff pers. comm.) and from Texas south to n. Veracruz, Mexico, and on the n. coast of the Yucatan Peninsula (Howell and Webb in press). Locally distributed permanent resident in the Caribbean on Andros I., and from Exuma south in the Bahamas (Prudenell-Bruce 1975, Buden 1992); also on offshore islands of Puerto Rico and the cays of the Virgin Islands (Raffaele 1989) and Martinique (D. McCrae pers. comm.). Occurrence variable; found sporadically in coastal areas of suitable habitat.

Resident on both coasts and offshore islands of Baja California from Isla San Gerónimo south (Wilbur 1987), and along Pacific coast from Gulf of California south to Oaxaca, Mexico (Howell and Webb in press). A few pairs apparently resident on Los Coronados Is., just a few kilometers south of the Mexican border (Garrett and Dunn 1981). In Central America occurs locally along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica (nonbreeding summer resident; Stiles and Skutch 1989), and breeds in Panama south to Coiba I. and the Pearl Is. (Ridgely and Gwynne 1989). Also, regions of South America, south to s. Argentina (durnfordi) and Chile (pitaney). Also Galápagos Is. (galapagensis; Jehl 1985, Hayman et al. 1986).

On the Atlantic coast, birds wander north occasionally to Maine and (rarely) to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. On the Pacific coast, strays have reached the Channel Is. off s. California (sometimes remaining for extended periods) and very rarely the California mainland (Garrett and Dunn 1981).

Winter Range

East Coast population winters regularly from Ocean Co., NJ, south; less commonly as far north as Long Island, NY and Connecticut, occasionally Massachusetts (Humphrey 1990, Veit and Petersen 1993). Most breeders from Massachusetts are migratory, wintering in Virginia (Humphrey 1990). Populations from Virginia south may be non-migratory, but winter visitors have been recorded on both coasts of Mexico (Howell and Webb in press), and migrants have been recorded on both coasts of Costa Rica (Stiles and Skutch 1989). Very local in winter along the Gulf Coast between Florida and Texas. Strictly accidental inland, but has reached Lake Ontario and the Salton Sea.

Peak winter concentrations occur in Virginia, N. and S. Carolina, although wintering birds can be found south of there. Populations on w. coast of Baja California and e. coast of Gulf of Mexico probably non-migratory.

Not reported.

Historical status prior to 1900 unclear. Believed to have once nested along the entire Atlantic coast as far north as Labrador, but no substantiating records (Audubon 1835, Forbush 1912, 1925, Bent 1929, Griscom and Snyder 1955).

Virginia the northern limit of breeding range through early 1900s (Am. Ornithol. Union 1910, Post and Raynor 1964), although individuals observed then at Portland and Calais, ME (Forbush 1912, Bent 1929). Also, specimens collected near Boston Harbor (MA), in Marshfield, MA (in 1837), and on Monomoy I. (April 1885; Brewster 1885, Forbush 1912, 1925), and species reported to be common in the Boston Market (Forbush 1912). Thirteen records in Massachusetts from 1900–1955 (Bailey 1955, Griscom and Snyder 1955), more frequent from 1955 to 1969 (Viet and Petersen 1993).

Species known to have bred in New Jersey as early as 1812 (Leck 1984). Extirpated from New York in 1896 and New Jersey in 1897 (Griscom 1923). By 1900, considered rare or accidental north of Virginia (Cooke 1910, Bailey 1913) where extirpation was predicted (Bailey 1913, Forbush and May 1939). At the same time becoming rare in S. Carolina (Bent 1929), Georgia (Erichsen 1921), and on the Gulf coasts of Florida (Sprunt 1954, DeGange 1978) and Texas (Forbush 1912).

Increasing numbers in Virginia during the first 3 decades of the 20th century, but range static. By 1939, breeding range had expanded north into the Maryland portion of Assateague I. (Stewart and Robbins 1958). First nesting this century in New Jersey in 1947 (Leck 1984), in New York in 1957 (Post 1961, Post and Raynor 1964). By 1952 bred at 3 locations in Worcester Co., MD (Stewart and Robbins 1958). In New Jersey, 11 nests located in 1954 (Leck 1984). By the early 1960s a regular breeder in s. New Jersey (Kramer 1948, Post and Raynor 1964). By 1963 nested in New York, but little increase and gulls and human disturbance thought to be a serious threat (Post and Raynor 1964). By the early 1970s, however, bred commonly on dredge spoil islands of Long Island, NY (Zaradusky 1985); increase in numbers of its major prey, Mytilis mussels, as pollution of waters around Long Island abated, may have encouraged colonization (Andrle and Carroll 1988). Early occurrences in Rhode Island in 1938 and 1954, after southern storms; later, transients seen there in 1968, 1969, and 1970; first Rhode Island breeding on Block I. in 1976 (J. E. Myers pers. comm.). First bred in Connecticut in 1980 (N. Proctor pers. comm.).

The first Massachusetts nesting occurred on Martha’s Vinyard in 1969 (Finch 1970). By 1970 additional pairs nested to the north on Monomoy I. By 1979 at least 18 pairs breeding in the state, 4 pairs on Monomoy; in 1984 an estimated 42 breeding pairs in the state, with 20 pairs on Monomoy in 1986 (RCH, Veit and Petersen 1993). From 1987 to 1993 additional sightings north of Monomoy, to Logan International Airport (Boston, MA; RCH and P. Stevens pers. comm., N. Smith pers. comm.).

West Coast population (H. p. frazari) considered common in the Gulf of California, locally common on the mainland coasts of Sonora and Sinaloa (Mexico), and spottily distributed south to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Jehl 1985). Further south it was (and continues to be) rare (Griscom 1933, Slud 1964, Jehl 1985). Frazari also found on the Très Marias Is. but not on the Revillagigedos Is. (Brattstrom and Howell 1956, Jehl 1985). Late in 19th century, both American Black Oystercatcher and American Oystercatcher were seen commonly on the west coast of n. Baja, but by 1969 only small numbers (bachmani) remained, with but a few scattered sightings in the 1980s (Jehl 1985). Decline likely due to intensive collecting and/or disturbance from permanent fishing camps. Midway down Baja, more frazari than bachmani, but numbers on all islands are small (e.g., ≤ 10 pairs frazari on San Benitos Is.; Jehl 1985). The San Roque and Asunción Is. supported large populations (predominantly frazari but also hybrids) in the late 1800s (11 birds collected in 1 d on Asunción, 20 in 1 d on San Roque), but by 1927 only a few pairs remained and by 1974 none (Jehl 1985). In sw. Baja California, probably small numbers on mainland beaches and coastal lagoons, but no reliable estimates (Jehl 1985). In San Ignacio Lagoon, about 100 frazari in a single flock in winter (W. T. Everett in Jehl 1985).

Distribution in Bahamas scattered; in West Indies rare (Bond 1971, Raffaele 1989, Downer and Sutton 1990), probably at least since 1920s (Wetmore and Swales 1931, Barbour 1943, Garrido and Montana 1975). Present in Cuba but status uncertain (Blanco and Gonzalez 1992).

There are no fossil or prehistoric records for this species. However, there are two early Pliocene, late Hemphillian (North American Land Mammal Age, 4.5 to 5.2 million years before present) records of importance. Haematopus sulcatus (Brodkorb 1955: 20; revised by Olson and Steadman 1979: 977–980) is from the Bone Valley Formation (Palmetto Fauna), Florida and is the oldest fossil species of oystercatcher. Also, there is a record from the Yorktown Formation at Lee Creek, NC, of Haematopus sp. (Olson and Steadman 1979: 980).