New Zealand Wattle Birds (Callaeidae)

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New Zealand wattle birds

(Callaeidae)

Class Aves

Order Passeriformes

Suborder Passeri (Oscines)

Family Callaeidae

Thumbnail description
Medium-sized songbirds with a distinctive, fleshy, bright-colored flap of bare skin, known as a "wattle," on each side of the corners of the beak. They have rounded wings and tail, and strong legs and toes.

Size
10–21 in (25–53 cm)

Number of genera, species
3 genera; 3 species

Habitat
Temperate forest

Conservation status
Extinct: 1 species; Endangered: 1 species; Near Threatened: 1 species

Distribution
New Zealand

Evolution and systematics

The wattle birds are three species of passerine birds, each assigned to its own genus, that comprise the family Callaeidae and live only in New Zealand. They likely evolved from a single, founder species that colonized the primeval forests of New Zealand more than one million years ago.

Physical characteristics

The body length is 10–21 in (25–53 cm), with a moderately long tail, short rounded wings, rather long legs, strong perching feet, and a curved, stout, dark beak. The body coloration is overall black, brown, or blue-gray, and with a blue or orange wattle (this is bare skin behind the gape of the beak). The sexes are dimorphic, differing in wattle color and bill size and shape.

Distribution

New Zealand.

Habitat

Temperate forest

Behavior

Wattle birds walk and hop on the ground but are weak fliers. They generally occur as non-migratory pairs that defend a breeding territory, or as unpaired birds. They have slow and distinct songs consisting of loud, bell-like notes. Pairs may sing duets in the morning.

Feeding ecology and diet

Wattle birds search for food on or close to the ground, where they hop about in long, deliberate jumps. They feed on insects, other invertebrates, fruit, and young leaves.

Reproductive biology

The nest is a flat platform of twigs placed as much as 33 ft (10 m) above the ground. It is loosely built and usually

roofed over. The clutch consists of two to four eggs that are colored pale gray or pale brown with dark spots.

Conservation status

The huia is recently Extinct, the kokako is Endangered, and the saddleback is dependent on continued conservation efforts for its survival.

Significance to humans

Wattle birds are of cultural significance to the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand. Otherwise, they are of no direct significance to people. They also provide economic benefits associated with bird-watching and ecotourism.

Species accounts

List of Species

Kokako
Tieke
Huia

Kokako

Callaeas cinerea

taxonomy

Callaeas cinerea Gmelin, 1788. Two subspecies.

other common names

English: Wattled crow; organbird; bellbird; French: Glaucope cendré; German: Graulappenvogel; Spanish: Kakapo.

physical characteristics

16–18 in (40–45 cm) and colored bluish gray with a black mask. The North Island kokako (C. c. wilsoni) has a blue wattle and the South Island sub-species (C. c. cinerea) has an orange or yellow one.

distribution

New Zealand

habitat

Temperate mixed forest, dominated by either coniferous or broadleaf (angiosperm) trees. The North Island kokako is found mainly in mature podocarp-hardwood forest. The South Island kokako utilized similar habitat, but it may now be extinct.

behavior

Actively walks and hops on the ground and from branch to branch, but is a weak flier. It generally occurs as non-migratory pairs that defend a breeding territory, or as unpaired individuals. It has a mellow, deliberate song consisting of loud bell-like notes. Pairs may sing duets in the morning, and other nearby kokako may also join in as a so-called "bush choir."

feeding ecology and diet

Feeds on small fruits, leaves, fern-fronds, flowers, and insects and other arthropods found on the forest floor or on foliage.

reproductive biology

Builds a cup-shaped nest of sticks on the ground or low in a shrub or tree. The nest is lined with moss, plant fibers, and feathers. Lays two to three gray eggs marked with brown. The female is responsible for the rather prolonged (about 50 days) incubation and the brooding of the young. This exposes the female to a much higher risk of predation by introduced mammals, resulting in some populations having a great imbalance of male over female birds.

conservation status

The kokako is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. The total area presently occupied by this rare bird is extremely small and fragmented. The number of breeding pairs is very small because of intense predation by introduced mammals, which has left many populations with an excess of unpaired males. Intensive conservation efforts are improving productivity at some sites. However, unmanaged populations continue to decline and at least one has become extirpated since 1990. Conservation biologists estimate that fewer than 400 pairs of the North Island kokako survive, in several isolated populations on islands off central and northern North Island. Since about 1980, there has been a marked decline in numbers of the North Island kokako, although management is now reversing that trend in some places. The South Island kokako is assumed extinct, although it is possible they survive in tiny numbers in remote parts of South Island or Stewart Island. The goal of the recovery plan for the kokako is to restore its population to about 1,000 pairs by the year 2020. A key element of the recovery program is the re-introduction of birds to predator-free islands having suitable habitat. Birds are being managed in captivity in an attempt to establish a captive-breeding and release program, and to prevent the extinction of local island races.

significance to humans

Economic benefits of ecotourism.

Tieke

Philesturnus carunculatus

taxonomy

Philesturnus carunculatus Gmelin, 1789. Two subspecies.

other common names

English: Saddleback; French: Créadion rounoir; German: Sattelvogel; Spanish: Tieke.

physical characteristics

10 in (25 cm). Glossy black, with a conspicuous chestnut-brown patch or "saddle" on its back, as well as chestnut on the tip of its tail, a black bill, black legs, and orange wattles on either side of the beak

distribution

New Zealand. There are two subspecies, occurring on North Island (P. c. rufusater) and South Island (P. c. carunculatus).

habitat

Middle and lower layers of native, temperate forest, usually on or near the ground.

behavior

Actively walks and hops on the ground and among branches, but is a weak flier. It generally occurs as non-migratory pairs that defend a breeding territory, or as unpaired birds. Males have a repertoire of melodious calls used during mating and to proclaim their territory.

feeding ecology and diet

Probes in dead wood and leaf litter to find its prey of insects and other invertebrates, and also eats fruits.

reproductive biology

Builds a cup-shaped nest of sticks on the ground or low in a shrub. Lays two to three eggs.

conservation status

Extinct on the mainland of North and South Island. Until recently, the North Island tieke only survived on Hen Island and the South Island subspecies on three small islands off Stewart Island. However, re-introductions to other suitable, small islands have been made, and it now occurs on about 20 islands. The tieke has suffered from the clearing of it habitat of native forest, and from the debilitating effects of introduced mammalian predators. It is listed Near Threatened by the IUCN. This means that its present non-threatened status can only be maintained through ongoing conservation efforts to enhance its surviving populations and maintain its habitat. According to conservation biologists, the population of the South Island tieke in the year 2000 was only about 650 individuals, and there were 2,000 individuals of the North Island subspecies. Active conservation management includes the establishment of new breeding populations on islands having suitable habitat. As of 2000, the North Island tieke was resident on nine relatively large islands (total of 17,000 acres or 7,000 hectares) and its prospects for survival were relatively favorable. The South Island subspecies was on 11 smaller islands (1,250 acres or 500 ha) and it needs translocation to additional predator-free islands to recover to a safer abundance.

significance to humans

Economic benefits of ecotourism.

Huia

Heteralocha acutirostris

taxonomy

Heteralocha acutirostris Gould, 1837.

other common names

French: Huia dimorphe; German: Hopflappenvogel; Spanish: Huia.

physical characteristics

18 in (45 cm). Bluish black plumage, white band across the tail end, and bright orange wattles.

distribution

New Zealand.

habitat

Temperate forest.

behavior

Actively walked and hopped but was a weak flier. Occurred as non-migratory pairs that defended a breeding territory.

feeding ecology and diet

Fed on insects and other arthropods found on the forest floor or in foliage and also ate fruits.

reproductive biology

Built a cup-shaped nest of sticks on the ground or low in a shrub. Laid two to three eggs.

conservation status

Extinct.

significance to humans

Revered by the Maori culture, but was hunted for feathers and as food.

Resources

Books

BirdLife International. Threatened Birds of the World. Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, U.K.: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, 2000.

Heather, B., and H. Robertson. Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, NZ: Viking Press, 1996.

Oliver, W. R. B. New Zealand Birds. Wellington, NZ, 1930.

Turbott, E. G. Buller's Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, NZ: Whitcomb & Tombs, 1967.

Organizations

BirdLife International. Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB3 0NA United Kingdom. Phone: +44 1 223 277 318. Fax: +44-1-223-277-200. E-mail: [email protected] Web site: <http://www.birdlife.net>

IUCN–The World Conservation Union. Rue Mauverney 28, Gland, 1196 Switzerland. Phone: +41-22-999-0001. Fax: +41-22-999-0025. E-mail: [email protected] Web site: <http://www.iucn.org>