New Zealand Bellbird
From Open Encyclopedia
{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = New Zealand Bellbird | status = Conservation status: Vulnerable | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Aves | ordo = Passeriformes | familia = Meliphagidae | genus = Anthornis | species = A. melanura | binomial = Anthornis melanura | binomial_authority = (Sparrman, 1786) }}
The New Zealand Bellbird of genus Anthornis, species melanura is a passerine bird that is endemic to New Zealand and is commonly known as bellbird. It has greenish coloration and is the only surviving member of the Anthornis genus (Gray, 1840).
It is known to the Maori as Korimako. It has a very distinctive song which can often be confused with the tui.
There are four sub-species:
Anthornis melanura melanura
Anthornis melanura dumerii
Anthornis melanura oneho
Anthornis melanura obscura
The bellbird is endemic throughout both the main islands of New Zealand but its population and dispersion has been decimated by the pasturalisation and colonisation of New Zealand by European settlers which has led to the removal of native forests (the natural habitat of the bellbird) and the introduction of predatory species such as cats, weasels, stoats, ferrets, rats and food robbing species like wasps.
Notwithstanding the ecological pressures applied by the above factors, the bellbird persists in areas of relatively undisturbed native forests whilst conservation activity from the 1920's has endeavoured to protect and promulgate the species. This has especially been the case in island enclaves that have been freed of predators.
The bellbird forms a significant component of the famed New Zealand dawn chorus of bird sounds that was much noted by early European settlers. The sound of the bellbird is included as one of the iconic bird sounds in the national radio programme of Radio New Zealand as played on early morning news programmes since about 1972.
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.
