Alternative name: Fernbird; Māori names are Kōtātā or Mātātā.
- Poodytes punctatus
Megalurus punctatus
Identification
Length 18cm. (7")
Rich brown above and white below, brown spots on throat and breast. The tail feathers are thin, dark brown, and spine-like.
Variations
The distinctive Snares Islands subspecies (M. p. caudatus) is much larger than the others. It is lighter brown, with paler more diffuse streaking and its almost unstreaked crown blends to reddish-brown on its forehead.
Photo © by Joseph Morlan
North East Island, Snares, Southland, New Zealand, 5 January 2017
Distribution
Taxonomy
Sometimes placed in genus Poodytes or monospecific genus Bowdleria. Distinctive Snares Islands population sometimes recognized as a separate species, the Snares Fernbird[4].
Subspecies
This is a polytypic species. Clements recognizes five subspecies[1].
- P. p. vealeae – North Island, in New Zealand.
- P. p. punctatus – South Island, in New Zealand.
- P. p. stewartianus – Stewart Island.
- P. p. wilsoni – Codfish Island (off northwest Stewart Island).
- P. p. caudatus - Snares Islands
Habitat
Photo © by Grant Weyburne
Bushy Point, Otatara, South Island, New Zealand, 2 January 2013
Marshes and wet lowlands.
Behaviour
Secretive.
Breeding
They make a deep woven cup of dried rushes lined with feathers in sedges. 2-3 pinkish-white eggs with brown or purple speckles are laid. Nesting chiefly August–March over most of range, including Stewart Island and Codfish Island. Mainland populations rear two or three broods annually.
Diet
Mostly small invertebrates, including crustaceans, spiders (Araneae), and wide variety of insects and their larvae.
Vocalisations
Song is an insignificant little warble, not often heard. Usually proclaims presence with sharp tchip. A metallic double-note uu-tick is often produced by pair in duet.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Higgins, P.J., Peter, J.M. & Cowling, S.J. (editors) 2006. Handbook of Australian , New Zealand & Antarctic Birds. Volume 7, Boatbill to starlings; Part 7B, Dunnock to starlings. Melbourne, Oxford University Press.
- Madge, S. & Kirwan, G.M. (2018). New Zealand Fernbird (Poodytes punctatus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/58713 on 31 October 2018).
- del Hoyo, J., Collar, N., Kirwan, G.M. & Boesman, P. (2018). Snares Fernbird (Poodytes caudatus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/1343892 on 31 October 2018).
- Miskelly, C.M. 2013. Fernbird. In Miskelly, C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds Online. http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) New Zealand Fernbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/New_Zealand_Fernbird
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
