Notiomystis cincta
The Stitchbird, *Notiomystis cincta*, also known by its Māori name Hihi, is a small, highly distinctive passerine endemic to New Zealand, currently classified in its own unique family, Notiomystidae, with its closest relatives being the ancient New Zealand Wattlebirds. Males are strikingly adorned with a black head and chest, prominent bright yellow shoulder patches that give the species its "cincta" (banded) epithet, white wing bars, and a brownish-olive back, measuring approximately 18 cm i...
Stitchbirds primarily inhabit dense, mature native broadleaf and podocarp forests with a rich understory, favoring areas with abundant nectar-producing plants. They are typically found at low to mid-elevations where these forest types flourish.
Stitchbirds are omnivorous, primarily feeding on nectar from a variety of native flowering plants, supplemented by a significant intake of small insects and spiders, and occasionally small fruits. They forage actively by probing flowers with their brush-tipped tongues and gleaning invertebrates f...
Stitchbirds are diurnal and highly active, spending their days foraging for nectar and insects, often performing acrobatic feats while feeding among flowers or gleaning insects from foliage. They exhibit a complex, promiscuous mating system known as polygynandry, with both sexes having multiple p...
The Stitchbird, *Notiomystis cincta*, was once widely distributed across the North Island of New Zealand, but by the late 19th century, it was extirpated from the mainland, surviving solely on Little Barrier Island (Hauturu). Through intensive conservation efforts and translocations, its range ha...
Endangered
- The Stitchbird is the only surviving member of its endemic New Zealand bird family, Notiomystidae, with its closest living relatives being the New Zealand Wattlebirds (kōkako and tīeke/saddleback). - Males are unique among non-passerine birds for engaging in "cloacal kissing," a direct cloacal-...