BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Haematopus bachmani
Black Oystercatcher
| Scientific Name: | Haematopus bachmani |
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| English Name: | Black Oystercatcher |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S4 |
| Date Status Assigned: | May 06, 1996 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | April 27, 2023 |
| Reasons: | Widespread breeder and resident along the coast. About 1000-2000 breeding pairs and a greater number of nonbreeders, and populations appear stable or maybe increasing. Some nesting areas protected. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | F = 20,000-200,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | Widespread breeder along the inner and outer coastal areas of BC from southern Vancouver Island to the north end of Haida Gwaii and Dundas Island (Campbell et al. 1990b; Hipfner 2015b). Breeding is particularly clustered through the Salish Sea, on Haida Gwaii, and around Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, though this may be due to greater observer effort in those areas (Hipfner 2015b). Most nest sites are located on bare, rocky offshore islands/islets. Nonbreeders occur along rocky shorelines in BC during all seasons. No interior records (Campbell et al. 1990b). |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | DE = 81 to >300 |
| Comments: | Widespread breeder and resident along the coast. Breeding confirmed or probable in 128 Breeding Bird Atlas squares (Hipfner 2015b). |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Comments: | Cleland Island, Anthony Island, Byers/Conroy/Harvey/Sinnett Ecological Reserve, Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, Naikoon Park, Pacific Rim National Park, etc. |
| Population Size: | E = 2,500 - 10,000 individuals |
| Comments: | Estimated breeding populations is 1000-2000 pairs (Campbell et al. 1990b; Hipfner 2015b). Entire Salish Sea population (including Washington State birds) estimated at 420 breeding birds and 141 non-nesting individuals in 2005/2006 (Golumbia et al. 2009). Nonbreeders are an uncommon to very common resident along the coast (seen in groups up to 100) (Campbell et al. 1990b). |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Comments: | Unusually hight tides or storms may wash away eggs laid too close ot the high-water mark. Humans or dogs may disturb nesting birds. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | GI = Relatively Stable to increase of >25% |
| Comments: | In the Strait of Georgia, populations are expanding into inlets and sounds (Campbell et al. 1990b). Christmas Bird Count results indicate an increasing wintering population, which may in part be made up of birds that breed out of province. Population apparently relatively unchanged between the 1980s and 2010s (Hipfner 2015b). |
| Long-Term Trend: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Environmental Specificity: | B=Narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements common. |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | |
| Inventory Needs: | |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | |
| Management: | |
| Version | |
| Author: | Westereng, L.K. updated by N. Hentze |
| Date: | April 27, 2023 |
| References | |
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Campbell, R.W., N.K. Dawe, I. McTaggart-Cowan, J.M. Cooper, G.W. Kaiser, M.C.E. McNall and G.E.J. Smith 1997. The Birds of British Columbia, Vol. 3, Passerines: Flycatchers through Vireos. UBC Press in cooperation with Environ. Can., Can. Wildl. Serv. and B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch. 700pp.
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Golumbia, T.E., D.R. Nysewander, R.W. Butler, R.L. Milner, T.A. Cyra, and J.R. Evenson. 2009. Status of breeding Black Oystercatchers Haematopus bachmani in the Salish Sea. Marine Ornithology 37:29-32.
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Hipfner, M. 2015b. Black Oystercatcher in Davidson, P.J.A., R.J. Cannings, A.R. Couturier, D. Lepage, and C.M. Di Corrado (eds.). The atlas of the breeding birds of British Columbia, 2008-2012. Bird Studies Canada. Delta, BC.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2023. Conservation Status Report: Haematopus bachmani. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Sep 24, 2026).