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huia
EntityQ285008· pop 37· linked from 623 articles

Also known as Heteralocha acutirostris

The huia ( ; ; Heteralocha acutirostris) is an extinct species of New Zealand wattlebird, endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. The last confirmed sighting of a huia was in 1907, although there was another credible sighting in 1924.

Wikidata facts

Image
Huia Buller.jpg
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taxon rank
species
IUCN conservation status
extinct species
endemic to
New Zealand
taxon name
Heteralocha acutirostris
Commons category
Heteralocha acutirostris
Commons gallery
Heteralocha acutirostris
taxon common name
uía
short name
H. acutirostris
Sources (3)

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Encyclopedic overview

16 sections
Contents
  • Taxonomy and etymology
  • Description
  • Distribution and habitat
  • Ecology and behaviour
  • Movements
  • Feeding and ecology
  • Voice
  • Commensals and parasites
  • Social behaviour and reproduction
  • Relationship with humans
  • In culture
  • Extinction
  • References
  • Bibliography
  • Further reading
  • External links

The huia ( ; ; Heteralocha acutirostris) is an extinct species of New Zealand wattlebird, endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. The last confirmed sighting of a huia was in 1907, although there was another credible sighting in 1924.

It was already a rare bird before the arrival of Europeans, confined to the Ruahine, Tararua, Rimutaka and Kaimanawa mountain ranges in the south-east of the North Island. It was remarkable for its pronounced sexual dimorphism in bill shape; the female's beak was long, thin and arched downward, while the male's was short and stout, like that of a crow. Males were long, while females were larger at . The sexes were otherwise similar, with orange wattles and deep metallic, bluish-black plumage with a greenish iridescence on the upper surface, especially about the head. The tail feathers were unique among New Zealand birds in having a broad white band across the tips.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “huia” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

Gallery (24)