Anarhynchus frontalis
The Wrybill, *Anarhynchus frontalis*, is an exceptionally unique and highly sought-after shorebird, endemic to New Zealand and renowned for its distinctive bill which curves sharply to the right. This medium-sized plover measures approximately 20-21 cm in length with a wingspan of 40-44 cm and weighs around 45-70 grams. Adults typically exhibit pale grey upperparts, pure white underparts, and a prominent black breast band, with breeding males displaying a more vivid black band and a darker gr...
The Wrybill primarily inhabits the shingle beds of braided rivers on the South Island for breeding, typically at elevations from sea level up to 800 meters. During the non-breeding season, they migrate to sheltered estuaries and coastal mudflats on both the North and South Islands.
Wrybills primarily feed on aquatic invertebrates, including the larvae of caddisflies, mayflies, and midges, which they expertly extract from under riverbed stones.
Wrybills are diurnal foragers, spending most of their daylight hours actively searching for food, though they are known to roost communally during high tide or at night on sheltered gravel banks. Their foraging strategy is entirely specialized, utilizing their unique bill to probe under stones an...
The Wrybill's breeding range is restricted to the shingle-braided riverbeds of the eastern South Island of New Zealand, primarily in the Canterbury, Otago, and Marlborough regions, with key populations found on rivers such as the Rakaia, Ashley, and Waimakariri. After breeding, the entire populat...
Endangered
- The Wrybill is the only bird species in the world with a bill that curves laterally to the right. - This unique bill adaptation allows them to efficiently flip stones with a specific right-to-left motion to uncover invertebrate prey. - Wrybills are endemic to New Zealand, meaning they are found...