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Project Noah Nature School
Acanthisitta chloris
New Zealands smallest bird (7-9 cm). Males have bright green upper parts, pale breast and vent, and white supercilium. Females slightly larger than males and quite drab coloured. Juvs similar to female but with streaked forehead and upper breast (see last image). Both have very short tail, pale yellow wing bar, largish feet with orange/yellow soles and a needle like upturned bill. Often seen in pairs or family groups.
Range has reduced markedly since human colonization of NZ but still found in forest in the central North Island and in southern beech forest through most of the South Island. These images taken in Aurther's Pass in dense beech forest in the centre of the South Island. Nominate sub species chloris (North Island sub sp is granti)
This tiny New Zealand Wren is an endemic species here. The name Rifleman was thought to have come about from the colour of the males green plumage which was similar to the colour of the uniform of the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Regiment from WWI.
Spotted on Jan 4, 2015
Submitted on May 2, 2015
8 Comments
Thanks Euan, hopefully a good addition to your mission.
Thank you Mark, they are certainly just as tricksy to photograph.
Thank you Fyn, always an honour to get nominated.
Excellent series and notes. They look a bit like our thornbills.
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
Very lucky indeed!
Thank you Joshua. I got lucky as they are not usually as obliging.
Great series!