African black oystercatcher chick (Haematopus moquini) and an egg. The female lays a clutch of 1 to 2 eggs, and both male and female incubate the eggs

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African black oystercatcher chick (Haematopus moquini) and an egg. The female lays a clutch of 1 to 2 eggs, and both male and female incubate the eggs for around 35 days. The newborn hatchlings take another 40 days to fledge, and are vulnerable to predators during that time. The chick is fed with food foraged from the intertidal zone in the bird's coastal habitat. This shorebird is endemic to southern Africa. It is classified as a near threatened species. Human activity that destroys nesting sites along beaches is the main threat to the population. Photographed in the De Hoop Nature Reserve, in the Western Cape region of South Africa.

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Size: 5200px × 3481px
Photo credit: © PETER CHADWICK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: aculeata, africa, african, agama, agamid, animal, biological, biology, branch, cock, desert, displaying, dominent, fauna, ground, kalahari, lizard, male, nature, reptile, reptilia, single, solitary, south, teritorial, wildlife, zoological, zoology