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The species South Island Kokako is extinct. |
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- Callaeas cinereus
Identification
38 cm (about 15 in), 230g (8 oz). A conspicuous forest passerine:
- Dark blue grey plumage
- Orange wattles
- Black facial mask
- Arched black bill
- Long black legs
- Rounded wings and long tail
Sexes similar.
Distribution
Formerly on South Island, New Zealand. Last confirmed sighting 1967.
Predation by introduced Black Rat, Stoat, Feral Cats and Common Brushtail Possum main cause for extinction, but also habitat fragmentation.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Formerly considered conspecific with North Island Kokako.
The scientific name was until recently considered to be Callaeas cinerea, but that involves a grammatical error, so it is now written as Callaeas cinereus.
Habitat
Lowland podocarp-tawa hardwood forest with diverse understorey. Occured from sea-level up to 900m.
Behaviour
Fed on leaves and fruit. Took also flowers, buds, nectar and invertebrates.
Changes from one abundant food source to another throughout year.
Usually seen in pairs, singly or in family groups.
Breeding season was in austral spring and summer, sometimes in early autumn when food abundant. Up to three or four broods a year. The nest was a cup-shaped structure made of coarse twigs and bound together with moss or lichens. It was placed in a tree fork, the top of a tree-fern or among mass of lianas, mostly in understorey or subcanopy. Layed 1 - 3 eggs.
A sedentary species.
Vocalisation
A very beautiful song, given all year. A loud 30-second sequence of rich, slow, organ-like notes is produced by both sexes (sometimes in duet). The birds started to sing at sunrise and continued for some 60 to 90 minutes.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) South Island Kokako. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 17 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/South_Island_Kokako
