(Photo captions and dates.) |
(→Identification: Added immature description.) |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
'''Males''' are olive green, with a purplish head, and black outer wing and tail feathers.<br /> | '''Males''' are olive green, with a purplish head, and black outer wing and tail feathers.<br /> | ||
'''Females''' are dull olive-brown, with a slight blue sheen on head, and pale yellow cheek stripe. | '''Females''' are dull olive-brown, with a slight blue sheen on head, and pale yellow cheek stripe. | ||
| + | '''Immatures''' are similar but have brown rather than red eyes. | ||
| + | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
[[New Zealand]] | [[New Zealand]] | ||
Revision as of 15:54, 2 November 2018
Photo © by Layzeboy
Lake Brunner, Westcoast [In my garden] South Island New Zealand, 26 September 2006
- Anthornis melanura
Identification
17–20 cm (6¾-7¾ in)
Males are olive green, with a purplish head, and black outer wing and tail feathers.
Females are dull olive-brown, with a slight blue sheen on head, and pale yellow cheek stripe.
Immatures are similar but have brown rather than red eyes.
Distribution
Taxonomy
Chatham Island Bellbird was formerly included in this species.
Subspecies
There are three subspecies[1]:
- A. m. obscura:
- Three Kings Islands (New Zealand)
- A. m. oneho:
- Poor Knights Islands (New Zealand)
- A. m. melanura:
- New Zealand (North and South Islands and Stewart Island) and the Auckland Islands
Habitat
Native and exotic forest, scrub.parks and gardens
Behaviour
Because of the bellbird's greenish colouring and preference for feeding and perching up high, this bird can be difficult to see. They are often located by the distinctive song first, and only then by sight.
Breeding
The breeding season is approximately September through to February. They tend to nest fairly high up in trees, and prefer trees with dense foliage for cover. The female makes the nest. The clutch consists of 3 to 5 eggs. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge at about 14 days old. A pair can raise two broods in a season.
A good range of food sources is required in the near vicinity, with flowering/fruiting times spread throughout the breeding season. They are strongly territorial during the breeding season. A pair maintains the same breeding territory year after year.
The oldest bellbird recorded lived to over 8 years.
Diet
Diet consists of nectar, fruit, flowers and insects and insect products such as honey dew.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F & D Donsker (Eds). 2018. IOC World Bird List (v8.2). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.8.2. Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
- http://landcareresearch.co.nz
- Higgins, P., Christidis, L. & Ford, H. (2017). New Zealand Bellbird (Anthornis melanura). 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 http://www.hbw.com/node/60267 on 27 February 2017).
- Higgins, P.J.; Peter, J.M.; Steele, W.K. 2001. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds. Vol. 5, tyrant-flycatchers to chats. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
- Shirihai, H. (2007) A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife. The Birds and Marine Mammals of the Antarctic Continent and the Southern Ocean. 2nd edition. A&C Black, London.
- Sagar, P.M. 2013. Bellbird. In Miskelly, C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds Online. http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz.
- BirdForum Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) New Zealand Bellbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 12 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/New_Zealand_Bellbird
