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Wrybill
jmorlan

Wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis)

We were surprised to see so many of this iconic endemic shorebird. Wrybill is unique in having a laterally curved bill, always curved to the right. This unusual bill is apparently an adaptation for extracting mayfly larva from under rocks in rapidly moving rocky streams. This species breeds only in the interior of the South Island and migrates to harbors and bays on the North Island. Numbers appear to be declining and the species is listed as vulnerable. It is the only member of the genus Anarhynchus which means "backwards bill." Despite it's strange bill, this species is believed to be related to the Double-banded Plover (Charadrius bicinctus).
Location
Miranda Shorebird Hide, Waikato District, New Zealand
Date taken
13 January 2017
Scientific name
Anarhynchus frontalis
Equipment used
Digiscoped with Panasonic LX5 | Nikon FS III | 30X fixed | no adapter.
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
They're such fun with those strange bills, aren't they Joe.

A lovely group image you've got here lad - very well done.
 

Media information

Category
New Zealand, Southern Oceans, Antarctica
Added by
jmorlan
Date added
View count
30
Comment count
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