Stitchbird
Sign in to saveAlso known as Notiomystis cincta
The stitchbird or hihi (Notiomystis cincta) is a honeyeater-like bird endemic to the North Island and adjacent offshore islands of New Zealand. Its evolutionary relationships have long puzzled ornithologists, but it is now classed as the only member of its own family, the Notiomystidae. It is rare, being extirpated everywhere except Little Barrier Island, but has been reintroduced to two other island sanctuaries and four locations on the North Island mainland. Current population estimations for mature individuals in the wild are 2,500–3,400.
Species
Vulnerablevia IUCN
Wikidata facts
- Mass
- 3.1
- Image
- Female hihi (stitchbird) perched on a twig.jpg
Show 8 more facts
- Commons category
- Notiomystis cincta
- taxon name
- Notiomystis cincta
- Commons gallery
- Notiomystis cincta
- taxon common name
- costureira
- egg incubation period
- 16
- litter size
- 4
- short name
- N. cincta
- taxon author citation
- (Du Bus, 1839)
via Wikidata · CC0
~8 min read
Article
10 sectionsContents
- Taxonomy and systematics
- Description
- Behaviour and ecology
- Breeding
- Status and conservation
- Reintroduction
- Gallery
- References
- Sources
- External links
The stitchbird or hihi (Notiomystis cincta) is a honeyeater-like bird endemic to the North Island and adjacent offshore islands of New Zealand. Its evolutionary relationships have long puzzled ornithologists, but it is now classed as the only member of its own family, the Notiomystidae. It is rare, being extirpated everywhere except Little Barrier Island, but has been reintroduced to two other island sanctuaries and four locations on the North Island mainland. Current population estimations for mature individuals in the wild are 2,500–3,400.
In addition to hihi, the stitchbird is also known by a number of other Māori names, including: tihi, ihi, tihe, kotihe, tiora, tiheora, tioro, kotihe-wera (male only), hihi-paka (male only), hihi-matakiore (female only), mata-kiore (female only), tihe-kiore (female only).