Stitchbird

"Hihi" redirects here. For other uses, see Hihi (disambiguation).

Stitchbird
Male in typical 'tail cocked' stance
Female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Notiomystidae
Driskell et al., 2007
Genus: Notiomystis
Richmond, 1908
Species:
N. cincta
Binomial name
Notiomystis cincta
(Du Bus, 1839)
  Islands and sanctuaries where stitchbirds are present

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.[2] Current population estimations for mature individuals in the wild are 2,500–3,400.[3]

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).[4]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Notiomystis cincta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22704154A118814893. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22704154A118814893.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Adams (2019).
  3. ^ "Redlist - Stitchbird".
  4. ^ Low, Matthew Richard (2004). "The Behavioural Ecology of Forced Copulation in the New Zealand Stitchbird (Hihi)" (PDF). Massey Research Online.