Have you ever seen a Hihi? These beautiful little birds were very poorly known until the 1990’s. They are also known as Stitchbirds, and were confined to a remnant population on Little Barrier Island before extensive management and translocation.
Hihi are endemic to New Zealand, and are in their own family – Notiomystidae. In 2007 they were reclassified, having previously been considered part of the Honeyeater (Meliphagidae) family, which includes Tui and Korimako (Bellbird). They are actually more closely related to the wattlebirds (Callaeidae), such as Kōkako and Tīeke (Saddleback). They do behave a lot like honeyeaters though, feeding on nectar and insects.
Hihi are sexually dimorphic – which means the males and females look different. Males are a distinctive black and yellow with white ‘ears’, and females are light brown with white flashes on their wings.
Hihi compete with Korimako and Tui for food. They’re at the bottom of the social hierarchy, which means they often get excluded from the best food resources. On Tiritiri Matangi there are nectar feeders set out to help supplement their diet. The entrances are small enough to prevent Tui from entering, but not Korimako – because they’re the same size as Hihi.
Their disappearance from the mainland is attributed to introduced predators, like many of our endemic birds. Hihi nest in tree cavities, which makes them easy prey during the breeding season. It also makes them hard to translocate, as not all habitats have trees with cavities – especially regenerating bush. Nest boxes are provided to help their breeding success – you can see examples on Tiri along the Wattle Track.
If you’d like to see Hihi, I’d recommend a trip to Tiri, Kapati Island, Karori Sanctuary, or Maungatautari. I’ve had the most success seeing them on Tiri, especially along the Wattle Track. The nectar feeders attract them at all times of day, so sitting close by for a few minutes (or more) is the easiest way to find them! They have a very distinct call – a high pitched “tsik” or warbling. The females don’t visit the feeders as often and are quite cryptic, hiding in dense bush. You can also find them in flowering trees in spring.
Further Reading:
Castro, I. (2013). Stitchbird. In Miskelly, C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds Online. www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz
Driskell, A.C.; Christidis, L.; Gill, B.J.; Boles, W.E.; Barker, F.K.; Longmore, N.W. (2007). A new endemic family of New Zealand passerine birds: adding heat to a biodiversity hotspot. Australian Journal of Zoology 55: 73-78.
