The New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura), also known by its Māori names korimako, makomako, and kōmako, is a passerine bird endemic to New Zealand. It has greenish colouration and is the only living member of the genus Anthornis. The bellbird forms a significant component of the famed New Zealand dawn chorus of bird song that was much noted by early European settlers. The explorer Captain Cook wrote of its song "it seemed to be like small bells most exquisitely tuned".[2] Its bell-like song is sometimes confused with that of the tūī. The species is common across much of New Zealand and its offshore islands as well as the Auckland Islands.
Males are olive-green with a dark purplish sheen on their head and black outer wing and tail, while females are a duller olive-brown with a blue sheen on the head and yellowish-white curving from the base of the bill to below the eye. Both have a notably red eye. They are about 17–20 cm from the tip of their beak to the end of their tail. Females weigh about 25 g and males 32 g. Juvenile females have brown eyes and a light yellow cheek stripe. Juvenile males have dull brown-black outer wing and tail feathers.[3]
Female
Male
Classification
There are four subspecies: A. melanura melanura, A. melanura dumerii, A. melanura oneho, and A. melanura obscura. The Chatham bellbird, A. melanocephala, which became extinct in the early 20th century, was formerly classified as a subspecies of the New Zealand bellbird, as A. melanura melanocephala.
The bellbird is found throughout both the main islands of New Zealand apart from the north of the North Island. Its population and distribution had been seriously affected by the introduction of European-style farming, which has led to the removal of native forests (the natural habitat of the bellbird). Another important factor is the introduction of predatory species such as cats, weasels, stoats, ferrets, rats, and food-robbing species like wasps. Predators either eat the birds or consume eggs, while food robbers compete with the bellbird for its natural food sources of nectar, honeydew and insects. The initial decline after European colonisation in the North Island was very marked and before farming was well established in many areas affected so other factors such as infection may have played a role. Indeed there are complexities as to assigning predator blame and the remarkable re-population over 100 years creates some issues too. Despite South Island colonisation in the same time frame the die back was not as severe. Descriptions exist of massive die back in the North Island within less than a 3 year period commencing within 10 years of colonisation in the 1850s and by the 1880s the species was feared close to extinction being confined to off shore islands and lake islands such as Motutaiko Island in Lake Taupō where the only likely predator was the Polynesian rat. On the largest island, Manawatāwhi of the Three Kings group to the north of the North Island, it was the only species of bird to remain plentiful, when the vegetation cover was impoverished because of the presence of goats. On Great Barrier Island, it disappeared in a 10 year period but remained on the smaller islands of the Hauraki Gulf, which possibly allowed more rapid recolonisation of the Auckland mainland in due course.[4] Accordingly the decline occurred around the same time as that of many other New Zealand species, but for unknown reasons was reversed and the species is still common across much of New Zealand.[5]
Behaviour
Bellbird feeding from flax flowers, note the pollen on its forehead which will help pollinate other flowers
Breeding
Breeding occurs from September to January where two broods can be produced. Their nesting habits are similar to the tui in respect to colour of eggs, clutch size and incubation.[6] They generally lay three to four eggs with pinkish brown spots and blotches.
Diet
Bellbirds feed on nectar, fruit and insects. Insects are important for females and their chicks during the breeding season. As honeyeaters, with brush-tipped tongues that enable them to sip nectar and the honeydew found on the trunks of beech trees,[7] they play an important part in pollinating numerous native plants such as mistletoe, fuchsia, and kowhai.[8]
Bellbird song consists of three distinct sounds similar to the sound of chiming bells. They sing during the day but more in the early morning and late evening. Their alarm call is a repeated set of harsh staccato notes,[8] similar to a blackbird. The call of the Anthornis melanura is used by Radio New Zealand as an interval signal.
References
^BirdLife International (2017). "Anthornis melanura". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22704447A110985953. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22704447A110985953.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
^Cook, James (1890). The Three Famous Voyages of Captain James Cook Round the World. London: Ward, Locke and Company. p. 165.
^North, Heather. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-17. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
^Turbott, E.G. (1953). "Notes on the occurrence of the Bellbird in North Auckland" (PDF). Notornis. 5 (6): 175–178.
^Bartle J & Sagar P (1987) "Intraspecific variation in the New Zealand Bellbird Anthoris melanura. Notornis34 253-306
^Bellbird - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand Retrieved: 13 February 2011
^Moon, Lynnette. (2006). Know your New Zealand-- birds. Moon, Geoff. Auckland, N.Z.: New Holland. ISBN9781869660895. OCLC 166309733.
^ abBellbird/korimako facts - Department of Conservation 2012-10-05 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved: 13 February 2011
Further reading
Higgins, P.J.; Peter, J.M.; Steele, W.K., eds. (2001). "Anthornis melanura Bellbird" (PDF). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 5: Tyrant-flycatchers to chats. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. pp. 1173–1191. ISBN978-0-19-553258-6.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to the New Zealand bellbird.
Holotype of Poor Knights bellbird Anthornis melanura oneho from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Specimens of New Zealand bellbird Anthornis melanura melanura from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Artist's depiction of Chatham Island bellbird Anthornis melanocephalaChatham Island Bellbird / Komako. by Paul Martinson. Artwork produced for the book Extinct Birds of New Zealand, by Alan Tennyson, Te Papa Press, Wellington, 2006
zealand, bellbird, anthornis, melanura, also, known, māori, names, korimako, makomako, kōmako, passerine, bird, endemic, zealand, greenish, colouration, only, living, member, genus, anthornis, bellbird, forms, significant, component, famed, zealand, dawn, chor. The New Zealand bellbird Anthornis melanura also known by its Maori names korimako makomako and kōmako is a passerine bird endemic to New Zealand It has greenish colouration and is the only living member of the genus Anthornis The bellbird forms a significant component of the famed New Zealand dawn chorus of bird song that was much noted by early European settlers The explorer Captain Cook wrote of its song it seemed to be like small bells most exquisitely tuned 2 Its bell like song is sometimes confused with that of the tui The species is common across much of New Zealand and its offshore islands as well as the Auckland Islands New Zealand bellbirdConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PasseriformesFamily MeliphagidaeGenus AnthornisSpecies A melanuraBinomial nameAnthornis melanura Sparrman 1786 Contents 1 Description 2 Classification 3 Distribution 4 Behaviour 4 1 Breeding 4 2 Diet 4 3 Song 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksDescription EditMales are olive green with a dark purplish sheen on their head and black outer wing and tail while females are a duller olive brown with a blue sheen on the head and yellowish white curving from the base of the bill to below the eye Both have a notably red eye They are about 17 20 cm from the tip of their beak to the end of their tail Females weigh about 25 g and males 32 g Juvenile females have brown eyes and a light yellow cheek stripe Juvenile males have dull brown black outer wing and tail feathers 3 Female MaleClassification EditThere are four subspecies A melanura melanura A melanura dumerii A melanura oneho and A melanura obscura The Chatham bellbird A melanocephala which became extinct in the early 20th century was formerly classified as a subspecies of the New Zealand bellbird as A melanura melanocephala Distribution Edit New Zealand bellbird feeding on honeydew on the trunk of a mountain beech tree Craigeburn Forest The bellbird is found throughout both the main islands of New Zealand apart from the north of the North Island Its population and distribution had been seriously affected by the introduction of European style farming which has led to the removal of native forests the natural habitat of the bellbird Another important factor is the introduction of predatory species such as cats weasels stoats ferrets rats and food robbing species like wasps Predators either eat the birds or consume eggs while food robbers compete with the bellbird for its natural food sources of nectar honeydew and insects The initial decline after European colonisation in the North Island was very marked and before farming was well established in many areas affected so other factors such as infection may have played a role Indeed there are complexities as to assigning predator blame and the remarkable re population over 100 years creates some issues too Despite South Island colonisation in the same time frame the die back was not as severe Descriptions exist of massive die back in the North Island within less than a 3 year period commencing within 10 years of colonisation in the 1850s and by the 1880s the species was feared close to extinction being confined to off shore islands and lake islands such as Motutaiko Island in Lake Taupō where the only likely predator was the Polynesian rat On the largest island Manawatawhi of the Three Kings group to the north of the North Island it was the only species of bird to remain plentiful when the vegetation cover was impoverished because of the presence of goats On Great Barrier Island it disappeared in a 10 year period but remained on the smaller islands of the Hauraki Gulf which possibly allowed more rapid recolonisation of the Auckland mainland in due course 4 Accordingly the decline occurred around the same time as that of many other New Zealand species but for unknown reasons was reversed and the species is still common across much of New Zealand 5 Behaviour Edit Bellbird feeding from flax flowers note the pollen on its forehead which will help pollinate other flowers Breeding Edit Breeding occurs from September to January where two broods can be produced Their nesting habits are similar to the tui in respect to colour of eggs clutch size and incubation 6 They generally lay three to four eggs with pinkish brown spots and blotches Diet Edit Bellbirds feed on nectar fruit and insects Insects are important for females and their chicks during the breeding season As honeyeaters with brush tipped tongues that enable them to sip nectar and the honeydew found on the trunks of beech trees 7 they play an important part in pollinating numerous native plants such as mistletoe fuchsia and kowhai 8 Song Edit Bellbirds singing source source Several New Zealand bellbirds singing on Tiritiri Matangi Island Problems playing this file See media help Bellbird song consists of three distinct sounds similar to the sound of chiming bells They sing during the day but more in the early morning and late evening Their alarm call is a repeated set of harsh staccato notes 8 similar to a blackbird The call of the Anthornis melanura is used by Radio New Zealand as an interval signal References Edit BirdLife International 2017 Anthornis melanura IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T22704447A110985953 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 1 RLTS T22704447A110985953 en Retrieved 13 November 2021 Cook James 1890 The Three Famous Voyages of Captain James Cook Round the World London Ward Locke and Company p 165 North Heather Bellbird Korimako identification leaflet PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2010 05 17 Retrieved 2011 08 22 Turbott E G 1953 Notes on the occurrence of the Bellbird in North Auckland PDF Notornis 5 6 175 178 Bartle J amp Sagar P 1987 Intraspecific variation in the New Zealand Bellbird Anthoris melanura Notornis 34 253 306 Bellbird Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand Retrieved 13 February 2011 Moon Lynnette 2006 Know your New Zealand birds Moon Geoff Auckland N Z New Holland ISBN 9781869660895 OCLC 166309733 a b Bellbird korimako facts Department of Conservation Archived 2012 10 05 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 13 February 2011Further reading EditHiggins P J Peter J M Steele W K eds 2001 Anthornis melanura Bellbird PDF Handbook of Australian New Zealand and Antarctic Birds Volume 5 Tyrant flycatchers to chats Melbourne Oxford University Press pp 1173 1191 ISBN 978 0 19 553258 6 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to the New Zealand bellbird Holotype of Poor Knights bellbird Anthornis melanura oneho from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Specimens of New Zealand bellbird Anthornis melanura melanura from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Artist s depiction of Chatham Island bellbird Anthornis melanocephala Chatham Island Bellbird Komako by Paul Martinson Artwork produced for the book Extinct Birds of New Zealand by Alan Tennyson Te Papa Press Wellington 2006 Portals Birds New Zealand Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title New Zealand bellbird amp oldid 1123634857, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
