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Callaeidae (sometimes Callaeatidae) is a family of passerine birds endemic to New Zealand.It contains three genera, with five species in the family. One species, the huia, became extinct early in the 20th century, while the South Island kōkako is critically endangered and may be extinct.
They belong to a family containing five species of New Zealand wattlebirds, [3] the other three being two species of tīeke (saddleback) and the extinct huia. [ 5 ] [ 7 ] Previously widespread, kōkako populations throughout New Zealand have been decimated by the predations of mammalian invasive species such as possums , stoats , cats and rats ...
(ex) Extirpated – a species no longer found in New Zealand or a portion thereof but existing elsewhere (P) – a regularly occurring in New Zealand or a portion thereof. The species occurs on an annual or mostly annual basis but does not nest in New Zealand. (V) Vagrant – a species rarely occurring in New Zealand or a portion thereof.
Yellow wattlebirds nest in breeding pairs and aggressively defend their territories from other birds. [8] The nest of the yellow wattlebird is made by the female alone, [ 8 ] and is a large, open saucer-shaped structure made of twigs and bark that are bound by wool. [ 2 ]
New Zealand has released several postage stamps portraying the huia. [44] [45] The New Zealand sixpence coin, minted between 1933 and 1966, featured a female huia on the reverse. The degree to which the huia was known and admired in New Zealand is reflected in the large number of suburban and geographical features which are named after the species.
Of the five species in the genus only the yellow wattlebird (Anthochaera paradoxa) and the red wattlebird (A. carunculata) have the wattles of their common name. [2] These are bare fleshy appendages, usually wrinkled and often brightly coloured, hanging from the cheeks, neck or throat, and presumably serving for display.
The red wattlebird is a rare vagrant to New Zealand, with confirmed records at Matakana in 1865 and Rohutu, Taranaki, in 1885, and a third unconfirmed report from Motupiko in 1938. [35] The red wattlebird appears to be a permanent resident in much of its range, though its movements are poorly known.
The saddlebacks appear to be a remnant of an early expansion of passerines in New Zealand, and are two of five New Zealand wattlebirds of the family Callaeidae, the others being the extinct huia, the endangered North Island kōkako, and the possibly extinct South Island kōkako. New Zealand wattlebirds have only one close relative: the ...