The bushwren (Xenicus longipes), also known as the mātuhituhi in Māori, was a very small and almost flightless bird that was endemic to New Zealand. It had three subspecies on each of the major islands of New Zealand, the North Island, South Island, and Stewart Island and nearby smaller islands. The species disappeared gradually after the introduction of invasive mammalian predators, last being seen on the North Island in 1955 and the South Island in 1968. Attempts were made to save the remaining population on small islands off Stewart Island, but they ultimately failed with the death of the last remaining known birds in 1972.
Bushwren
Xenicus longipes mount in the collection of Auckland Museum
It grew to about 9 cm long and 16 g in weight. It fed mostly on invertebrates, which it captured by running along the branches of trees. It nested on or near the ground.
Extinction
Photo of a live X. l. longipes taken in 1911
It was widespread throughout the main islands of the country until the late 19th century when mustelids were introduced and joined rats as invasive mammalian predators. The only authenticated reports of the North Island subspecies (X. l. stokesi) since 1900 were from the southern Rimutaka Range in 1918 and the Ureweras up to 1955, with probable sightings on June 13, 1949, near Lake Waikareiti, and several times in the first half of the 20th century in the Huiarau Range and from Kapiti Island in 1911.[2][3][4] Apparently, the last population lived in the area where Te Urewera National Park was established, just around the time of its extinction.
The last authenticated reports of the South Island subspecies (X. l. longipes) were from Arthur's Pass in 1966 and Nelson Lakes National Park in 1968. There have been a few unsubstantiated reports since then from Fiordland and Nelson Lakes.
The third subspecies, the Stewart Island bushwren or Stead's bushwren (X. l. variabilis), was found on Stewart Island/Rakiura and nearby islands. It is known to have survived on Stewart Island until 1951,[5] but was probably exterminated there by feralcats. It lived on Kotiwhenua (Solomon) Island, being reasonably common, until the early 1960s. It survived on predator-free Big South Cape Island until black rats (R. rattus) invaded it in 1964. The New Zealand Wildlife Service attempted to save the species by relocating all the birds they could capture. They caught six birds and transferred them to Kaimohu Island, where they did not survive and they finally died out in 1972.[1]
^ abBirdLife International (2016). "Xenicus longipes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22698580A93690852. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22698580A93690852.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^ Edgar, A. T. (1949): Winter Notes on N.Z. Birds. New Zealand Bird Notes3(7): 170-174.
^St. Paul, R. & McKenzie, H. R. (1977): A bushman's seventeen years of noting birds. Part F (Conclusion of series) - Notes on other native birds. Notornis24(2): 65–74.
^Miskelly, Colin (2003): An historical record of bush wren (Xenicus longipes) on Kapiti Island. Notornis50(2): 113–114.
^Dawson, E. W. (1951): Bird Notes from Stewart Island. Notornis4(6): 146-150.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xenicus longipes.
Wikispecies has information related to Xenicus longipes.
of specimen RMNH 110.000 at Naturalis, Leiden (requires QuickTime browser plugin).
Paratype specimen of Xenicus longipes variabilis in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Image of Bush Wren from Te Ara: The Online Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Bush Wren / Matuhi. Xenicus longipes. by Paul Martinson. Artwork produced for the book Extinct Birds of New Zealand, by Alan Tennyson, Te Papa Press, Wellington, 2006
January 05, 2023
bushwren, bushwren, xenicus, longipes, also, known, mātuhituhi, māori, very, small, almost, flightless, bird, that, endemic, zealand, three, subspecies, each, major, islands, zealand, north, island, south, island, stewart, island, nearby, smaller, islands, spe. The bushwren Xenicus longipes also known as the matuhituhi in Maori was a very small and almost flightless bird that was endemic to New Zealand It had three subspecies on each of the major islands of New Zealand the North Island South Island and Stewart Island and nearby smaller islands The species disappeared gradually after the introduction of invasive mammalian predators last being seen on the North Island in 1955 and the South Island in 1968 Attempts were made to save the remaining population on small islands off Stewart Island but they ultimately failed with the death of the last remaining known birds in 1972 BushwrenXenicus longipes mount in the collection of Auckland MuseumConservation statusExtinct 1972 IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PasseriformesFamily AcanthisittidaeGenus XenicusSpecies X longipesBinomial name Xenicus longipes Gmelin 1789 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Extinction 4 Gallery 5 References 6 External linksTaxonomy EditGerman naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin described the bushwren in 1789 Description EditIt grew to about 9 cm long and 16 g in weight It fed mostly on invertebrates which it captured by running along the branches of trees It nested on or near the ground Extinction Edit Photo of a live X l longipes taken in 1911 It was widespread throughout the main islands of the country until the late 19th century when mustelids were introduced and joined rats as invasive mammalian predators The only authenticated reports of the North Island subspecies X l stokesi since 1900 were from the southern Rimutaka Range in 1918 and the Ureweras up to 1955 with probable sightings on June 13 1949 near Lake Waikareiti and several times in the first half of the 20th century in the Huiarau Range and from Kapiti Island in 1911 2 3 4 Apparently the last population lived in the area where Te Urewera National Park was established just around the time of its extinction The last authenticated reports of the South Island subspecies X l longipes were from Arthur s Pass in 1966 and Nelson Lakes National Park in 1968 There have been a few unsubstantiated reports since then from Fiordland and Nelson Lakes The third subspecies the Stewart Island bushwren or Stead s bushwren X l variabilis was found on Stewart Island Rakiura and nearby islands It is known to have survived on Stewart Island until 1951 5 but was probably exterminated there by feral cats It lived on Kotiwhenua Solomon Island being reasonably common until the early 1960s It survived on predator free Big South Cape Island until black rats R rattus invaded it in 1964 The New Zealand Wildlife Service attempted to save the species by relocating all the birds they could capture They caught six birds and transferred them to Kaimohu Island where they did not survive and they finally died out in 1972 1 Gallery Edit Illustration of Xenicus longipes longipes by John Gerrard Keulemans Eggs of X l longipes in 1911 1888 illustration of the head and feet of Xenicus longipes by John Gerrard KeulemansReferences Edit a b BirdLife International 2016 Xenicus longipes IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22698580A93690852 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22698580A93690852 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Edgar A T 1949 Winter Notes on N Z Birds New Zealand Bird Notes 3 7 170 174 PDF fulltext St Paul R amp McKenzie H R 1977 A bushman s seventeen years of noting birds Part F Conclusion of series Notes on other native birds Notornis 24 2 65 74 PDF fulltext Miskelly Colin 2003 An historical record of bush wren Xenicus longipes on Kapiti Island Notornis 50 2 113 114 PDF fulltext Dawson E W 1951 Bird Notes from Stewart Island Notornis 4 6 146 150 PDF fulltextExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xenicus longipes Wikispecies has information related to Xenicus longipes 3D view of specimen RMNH 110 000 at Naturalis Leiden requires QuickTime browser plugin Paratype specimen of Xenicus longipes variabilis in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Image of Bush Wren from Te Ara The Online Encyclopedia of New Zealand Photography of Xenicus longipes by William Herbert Guthrie Smith Bush Wren Matuhi Xenicus longipes by Paul Martinson Artwork produced for the book Extinct Birds of New Zealand by Alan Tennyson Te Papa Press Wellington 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bushwren amp oldid 1119881802, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
