Saddlebacks and stitchbirds
North and South Island saddlebacks
The North Island saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater) and South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus) are both known as tīeke to Māori. They belong to an old endemic family, Callaeatidae (New Zealand wattlebirds).
Both species are glossy black with a chestnut-red saddle and rump, and red fleshy wattles hanging from the base of the bill. The North Island saddleback has a buff-coloured line at the edge of the saddle. They run on long, strong legs, and fly noisily for short distances. Their call is an insistent, raucous ‘tee-kekeke’.
Decline and partial recovery
Saddlebacks were very common when European settlement began. But as rats, stoats and ferrets spread they declined rapidly, until they were left on only a few rat-free islands. They roost and nest in holes, often near the ground, so are easily caught. The removal of predators from islands and fenced mainland sanctuaries has allowed several new populations of South and North Island saddlebacks to become established. Where food is plentiful, they raise several broods a year.
Feeding
Saddlebacks eat insects, fruit and nectar. Their specially adapted jaw allows them to open their bill forcefully, and prise open decaying wood looking for grubs, wētā and other large invertebrates. Like parrots, they sometimes hold food with one foot and tear it apart with their bill.
Stitchbird
The stitchbird or hihi (Notiomystis cincta) was once thought to belong to the honeyeater family, but a recent genetic study suggests it is closer to the Callaeatidae (New Zealand wattlebirds). However, it feeds in a similar way to the honeyeaters.
Description
The English name describes the bird’s short clicking call, which sounds like machine stitching. The Māori name, hihi, means rays of the sun or feelers. It refers to the male’s yellow breast plumage, or to the bird’s facial whiskers – which also earn the brown female the name mata-kiore (rat-face).
Stitchbirds are 18 centimetres long. The male weighs 40 grams and the female 30 grams.
Males and females have quite different plumage. The male has a black head, chest and back, with white ‘ear’ tufts that stand erect during displays. The black edge is bordered with rich yellow, and wings are contrasting yellow and black with a white wing-bar. The female is greenish brown with a white wing-bar. Stitchbirds usually hold their tails erect when perching. Their bills are short, and they have very long, brush-tipped tongues.
Feeding
Stitchbirds feed on nectar, berries and invertebrates.
Breeding
Stitchbirds nest in tree holes, which makes it difficult for them to escape from predators. They occasionally mate face to face – something not seen in any other bird. Some are monogamous, while others (male or female) have more than one mate. In monogamous pairs, males help feed the chicks. The oldest known stitchbird lived seven years.
Distribution
Stitchbirds were common around the North Island until the 1870s, but by 1885 were only found on Little Barrier Island. Since 1980, some have been moved to other islands and sanctuaries. This has sometimes been successful, but their food needs have not always been met, partly because of competition from tūī and bellbirds. Supplementary feeding with sugar water helps overcome this problem.
