New Zealand Bellbird

Anthornis melanura - Méliphage carillonneur

Systematics

Order
:
Passeriformes
Family
:
Méliphagidés
Genus
:
Anthornis
Species
:
melanura

Descriptor

Sparrman, 1786

Biometrics

Size
: 20 cm
Wingspan
: -
Weight
:

Geographic range

Distribution

Identification

The overall look is that of a dark green bird with a slightly downcurved bill. The male is greenish, paler underneath than above, with a purplish head reflection. The remiges and rectrices are blue-black, the eye is red. In the female, the colours are duller, the head does not have the purple reflections of the male's head, remiges and rectrices are more brownish. Distinctive character, a narrow white moustache. The young resemble the female but have a brown eye and a yellowish moustache. The further south, the darker the birds are. The species is commonly known as the New Zealand Bellbird.

Subspecific information 3 subspecies

Anthornis melanura melanura (North I., South I. and many offshore islands)
Anthornis melanura obscura (Three Kings I.. nw of North Island.)
Anthornis melanura oneho (Poor Knights Is.. e of North Island.)

Foreign names

Méliphage carillonneur,
Mielero maorí,
sininho-maori,
Maorihonigfresser,
csengőmadár,
Maoribelhoningvogel,
Campanaro di Nuova Zelanda,
korimako,
Maorihonningeter,
medárik makomako,
medosavka novozélandská,
Newzealandsk Bjældefugl,
makomako,
menjamel de Nova Zelanda,
szmaragdowiec (zwyczajny),
Медосос-колокольчик,
ニュージーランドミツスイ,
新西兰吸蜜鸟,
korimako,
鐘吸蜜鳥,

Voice song and call

play
pause

The song, very variable and quite harmonious, is a succession of low, liquid notes. The bird can sing continuously for several tens of minutes, with male and female singing in duet. The call is composed of repeated notes that can be transcribed as tink tink tink or yeng yeng yeng. The New Zealand Bellbird can sing such a song.

Habitat

The New Zealand Bellbird is mainly a forest bird with a clear preference for native woodlands, although it can sometimes be found in some plantations of Eucalyptus or other exotic species. From what I have seen in the Auckland region, it also frequents parks and gardens. It can be seen from the coast to around 1,200 metres altitude.

Behaviour character trait

Mainly sedentary, but behaviour appears to vary from region to region. On the whole, males move around more than females, but on Poor Knights, males remain on their territory throughout the year which they defend while females leave after the breeding season.

Flight

The flight is fast and direct.

Dietfeeding habits

The nectar of flowers makes up the largest part of its diet in spring and summer, insects in autumn and winter. The New Zealand Bellbird also consumes a lot of fruits and honey year-round. At feeding sites, each bird defends a territory and males are generally dominant over females.

Reproduction nesting

The breeding period varies depending on the region, generally stretching from September to February. Some couples have two clutches, but this is not the majority.

The female builds the nest (about 15 cm in diameter) alone with all kinds of vegetable materials. The nest can be placed on the ground or several meters high in a tree. It is always well hidden. The clutch usually consists of 3 eggs, sometimes 4 or 5. Only the female incubates for about 2 weeks, often fed by the male. Both sexes feed the young which remain in the nest for about 2 or 3 weeks.

Geographic range

The New Zealand Bellbird is an endemic species of New Zealand. It reproduces both on the two main islands as well as on Stewart or some small isolated islands such as Auckland Island, Three Kings Islands or Poor Knights Islands.

Threats - protection

IUCN conservation status

Extinct

Threatened

Least
concern

Extinc
in the Wild

Near
threatened

Not
evaluated

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

The New Zealand Bellbird is common throughout its range. However, the Chatham Islands' endemic subspecies (Anthornis melanura melanocephala) has been extinct since the early twentieth century.