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Alternative names: New Zealand Rockwren; Alpine Rock Wren; Rock Wren; South Island Rock Wren
- Xenicus gilviventris
Identification
10 cm. Dull green above, grey-brown below, yellow flanks; female more olive brown; long legs and fine black bill.
Distribution
Taxonomy
Habitat
Mountain ranges and in valleys, rocky slopes, open scree usually vegetated with alpine and subalpine low shrublands.
Behaviour
It has unusual habit of vigorously bobbing up and down.
It nests among loose rock or debris, on bluffs or rocky ledges, always close to vegetation.
The diet includes insects but will occasionally take fruits and seeds from alpine vegetation.
