As its name suggests, the Variable Oystercatcher has several plumage variations. The most commonly encountered form is completely black. This black morph is almost identical to the Sooty Oystercatcher (H. fuliginosus) of Australia except for a longer bill and its tail does not project beyond the wingtips when at rest.
The rarer pied colour morph is similar to the South Island Pied Oystercatcher (H. finschii), but the black extends further down breast and ends in an untidy lower border.
Intermediate morphs also occur, such as the bird on the left. These intermediates range in colour between the two extremes, but are generally closer to black than pied.
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