The Saddlebacks or Tieke, its taxonomic family is also known as “wattlebirds”. All members of this family have coloured fleshy appendages on either side of the beak known as “wattles”. In the case of the saddlebacks, they are a vivid red in colour.
Tieke were once widespread throughout New Zealand’s mainland and island forests. Their decline began in the mid 19th century, both North Island saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater) and South Island saddleback (P. carunculatus) were close to extinction. The most endangered of the two species is the South Island saddleback, with only 650 birds in existence.
The North Island saddleback is now resident on nine large islands (7,000 ha) and is in a favourable position to survive. The South Island species is on 11 smaller islands (500 ha) and it needs translocating onto further predator-free islands if it is to recover.
The Purple Swamphen, in New Zealand, where it is known as the Pūkeko. Pūkeko is probably one of the most recognised native birds in New Zealand with its distinctive colourings and habit. It look very similar to takahe, although takahe are much heavier.
The colour red was associated with nobility and power by Māori so the Pūkeko was held in high esteem because of its red beak and legs.
The Rifleman or Tītipounamu is one of only two surviving species within the ancient endemic New Zealand wren family. It is New Zealand’s smallest endemic bird, with fully grown adults reaching around 8 cm, weigh around 6g to 7g.
The New Zealand parakeet. Its known by its Māori name of kākāriki, meaning ‘small green parrot’. There are five main species of kākāriki: Yellow-crowned parakeet, Orange-fronted parakeet, Red-crowned parakeet
Forbes’ parakeet and Antipodes Island parakeet.
Mitochondrial DNA analysis has indicated that the orange-fronted parakeet is a separate species and not just a colour variation of the yellow-crowned parakeet. The orange-fronted parakeet is highly endangered, with less than 200 individuals remaining in the North Canterbury region of the South Island.
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