New Zealand Bellbird

Anthornis melanura

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernEndemicNectarForestCavity nestSmall · 27 g

What the New Zealand Bellbird sounds like

Sonogram of the New Zealand Bellbird: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by craig wilson · Song · Millerton, Buller District, West Coast Region, New Zealand · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the New Zealand Bellbird: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by craig wilson · Song · Granity, Buller District, West Coast, New Zealand · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the New Zealand Bellbird: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by craig wilson · Call · North West Bay, Marlborough District, Marlborough Region, New Zealand · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

Bellbirds are medium-sized honeyeaters, about 17–20 cm in length from the tip of their beak to the end of their tail. Females weigh about 25 g and males 33 g. Males have an olive-green body with a dark purplish sheen on their head. Their belly and flanks are lighter. The uppertail is black-brown with a narrow iridescent blue-black edge on most feathers. The upperwing coverts are mostly dark olive-green, with blackish inner webs. The vent and undertail-coverts are pale yellow to off-white, and the thighs are grey.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the New Zealand Bellbird

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is December, the month with the most records.

Where to see the New Zealand Bellbird

Regular range

The map shades 1 country with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

About the New Zealand Bellbird

The New Zealand bellbird, also known by its Māori language names korimako, makomako and kōmako, is a medium-sized species of honeyeater endemic to New Zealand. It has been the only living member of the genus Anthornis since the Chatham Islands bellbird went extinct in the early 20th century. The bellbird's closest living relative is the only other New Zealand honeyeater, the tūī. The bellbird forms a significant component of the famed New Zealand dawn chorus of birdsong, which was much noted by early European settlers. Exceptional singing abilities were already observed by Captain James Cook, who described its song as "like small bells most exquisitely tuned".

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Little Friarbird vs New Zealand Bellbird · New Zealand Bellbird vs White-eared Honeyeater · New Zealand Bellbird vs Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

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