The North Island kokako is a large songbird with a blue-grey body, a striking black mask and small, rich blue wattles that arise from the base of the bill and sit under the throat. Typically, when seen backlit in forest, kokako seem dark-plumaged and neither mask nor wattles are seen.

What is kokako in English?

kokako in British English

(ˈkəʊˌkɑːkəʊ ) nounWord forms: plural -kos. a dark grey long-tailed wattled crow of New Zealand, Callaeas cinerea.

Is kokako native to NZ?

The kōkako belongs to the endemic New Zealand wattlebirds, an ancient family of birds which includes the North and South Island saddleback and the extinct huia.

Is the kokako bird extinct?

Declared extinct by the Department of Conservation in 2008, the species' conservation status was moved from extinct to data deficient in 2013 following the acceptance of a sighting from near Reefton on the West Coast of the South Island in 2007.

How many kokako are there in NZ?

Population. The North Island kōkako population has grown from about 330 pairs in 1999 to around 1595 in 2017 due to pest control at key sites, and translocating birds. Kōkako defend terrritories year-round by singing.

The Kokako, a bird with an Yma Sumac-like range

29 related questions found

What does a kokako bird sound like?

Voice: rich, sonorous, sustained, organ-like notes are sung by both male and female North Island kokako, frequently as duet, and typically from a high perch. There is a frequent close contact call of 'took', repeated variably.

What is a kokako bird?

Kōkakos (Callaeas) are two species of endangered forest birds which are endemic to New Zealand, the North Island kōkako (Callaeas wilsoni) and the presumably extinct (recently data deficient) South Island kōkako (Callaeas cinereus). They are both slate-grey with wattles and have black masks.

What are kokako predators?

Predators attack nests; mainly ship rats and possums, and some stoats.
...
These predators include:

• Stoats, weasels and ferrets which were brought to New Zealand by people to control rabbits.
• Rats and mice.
• Possums Cats Deer and goats.

How many kokako are left in the world?

There are now approximately 1,300 North Island kokako left. In years of abundant food supply, the breeding season can extend significantly, and North Island kokako can raise up to three broods.

How many eggs do kokako lay?

The hen lays one to three eggs, which she incubates for 18 days. The eggs are pinkish-grey with brown splotches.

How do kokako survive?

The main reason for kōkako decline numbers is predation by possums and ship rats. These animals attack females on the nest and destroy their eggs and chicks. The only way to ensure the survival of kōkako is to protect them from these predators during the nesting season so chicks can fledge.

What food does a kokako eat?

Feeding

• During winter kōkako mainly eat leaves, fern fronds and some insects.
• In spring kōkako feed more on nectar and leaf buds.
• Over summer kōkako mainly eat fruit, moths, caterpillars, wētā and other invertebrates.

What is population of the kokako?

A milestone in efforts to increase the number of kōkako has been celebrated under the cover of darkness. From a population of just 300 breeding pairs in the late '90s, the North Island kōkako now boasts 2000 pairs.

What does kokako mean in Maori?

kōkako. ... (noun) kōkako, Callaeas cinerea - a large, dark bluish-grey, rare forest bird of limited flight with a black facial mask, blue wattles (North Island), a short strongly arched bill, long black legs and a long tail.

When did the South Island kokako go extinct?

The South Island kōkako was formally declared extinct by the Department of Conservation in 2007, as it had been 40 years since the last authenticated sighting at Mt Aspiring in 1967.

Which of these Wattlebirds has never had a population in New Zealand?

The huia (Māori: [ˈhʉiˌa]; 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 were credible sightings into the 1960s. Its extinction had two primary causes.

How tall is a KEA?

The kea is a large parrot measuring 46 to 50 cm (18 to 20 in) in total length, with some specimens possibly reaching 55 cm (22 in). Adult keas weighs between 750 and 1,000 g (1.65 and 2.20 lb), with males averaging 956 g (2.108 lb) and females averaging 779 g (1.717 lb).

What NZ bird sings at night?

The kiwi is New Zealand's best-known nocturnal bird, navigating in the dark with its excellent senses of smell and touch.

Can Robins be black?

Regional Differences. Western populations are often paler than eastern populations and have almost no white at the tail corners. Breeding robins on the Canadian Atlantic coast are richly colored, with black on the upper back and neck.

What NZ birds call at night?

The morepork is a small, dark, forest-dwelling owl. Found in both native and plantation forests, its distinctive “more-pork” call is commonly heard at night in many urban parks and well-vegetated suburbs.

Do Moreporks eat rats?

Morepork are nocturnal, hunting at night for large invertebrates including beetles, weta, moths and spiders. They will also take small birds, rats and mice.

What does it mean when you hear a Morepork at night?

In Māori tradition, the morepork or ruru was often seen as a watchful guardian. As a bird of the night, it was associated with the spirit world. Its occasional high, piercing call signified bad news, such as a death, but the more common 'ruru' call heralded good news.