The African black oystercatcher Haematopus moquini is endemic to southern Africa and occurs as a breeding species between Seal Island, South West Africa/Namibia and Mazeppa Bay, Transkei. Vagrants outside this area are rare further north than the Hoanib Estuary, South West Africa/Namibia and further east than Transkei. The present adult population is estimated to be 4781 birds of which 53% are found in the southwestern Cape Province, South Africa.