Callaeas wilsoni
The North Island Kōkako (Callaeas wilsoni) is a distinctive, medium-sized forest passerine endemic to New Zealand's North Island, measuring approximately 38 cm in length and weighing around 250 grams. Its striking slate-grey plumage, long black tail, and short, rounded wings are secondary to its most notable feature: bright orange-blue fleshy wattles at the gape, which become more vibrant with age. This unique characteristic, along with its melodious, flute-like song, makes it unmistakable. A...
Found in dense, mature native broadleaf forests, particularly podocarp-broadleaf and lowland tawa forests, from sea level up to 1000 meters, requiring abundant understory and epiphytic growth.
Omnivorous, primarily feeding on native fruits, young leaves, buds, nectar, and a variety of invertebrates such as spiders, wētā, and beetles.
Diurnal and largely arboreal, Kōkako spend most of their time in the mid-canopy and upper story, moving through branches by bounding and gliding rather than long flights. They are highly territorial, with monogamous pairs defending territories of up to 25 hectares, marked by complex, far-carrying...
The North Island Kōkako is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. Historically, it was widespread throughout native broadleaf and podocarp forests across the island. However, due to the severe impact of introduced mammalian predators, its distribution became highly fragmented and significant...
Endangered
- Often called the 'organ bird' by early European settlers due to its remarkable flute-like song, which can carry for up to 2.5 kilometers. - Its blue-orange wattles are a unique and instantly recognizable feature among New Zealand's avifauna. - Once considered extinct on the North Island in the ...