Callaeidae

Callaeidae (sometimes Callaeatidae) is a family of passerine birds endemic to New Zealand. It contains three genera, with five species in the family. One species, the huia, became extinct early in the 20th century, while the South Island kōkako is critically endangered and may be extinct.

Although sometimes known as wattled crows, they are not corvids and are only distantly related to crows - New Zealand wattlebirds is the informal name for this family used by the scientific community.<ref name="HANZAB">Higgins, P.J. & J.M. Peter (eds) 2002. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 6: Pardalotes to Shrike-thrushes. Oxford University Press, Melbourne. Template:ISBN</ref>

Biology and evolution

They are ground-dwelling songbirds, 26–38 cm in length. They inhabit dense forests, where they feed on insects. They have strong legs and featherless wattles behind the bill. Their wings are rounded and unusually weak, giving them very limited powers of flight. They are monogamous and maintain permanent territories.<ref name=EoB>Template:Cite book</ref>

These birds seem to be remnants of an early expansion of passerines to New Zealand. Their only close relative is the stitchbird.<ref name="Ewen et al.">Template:Cite journal</ref>

The phylogenetic relationships between the species shown below is based on a study published in 2022. The South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus) was not sampled.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Species

• Genus Callaeas
  • North Island kōkako, Callaeas wilsoni
  • South Island kōkako, Callaeas cinereus (possibly extinct)
• Genus Philesturnus
  • North Island saddleback, Philesturnus rufusater
  • South Island saddleback, Philesturnus carunculatus
• Genus Heteralocha
  • Huia, Heteralocha acutirostris (extinct)

Gallery

• Heteralocha acutirostris.jpg

  Huia, Heteralocha acutirostris (extinct)

• Kokako.jpg

  North Island kōkako, Callaeas wilsoni

• Saddleback.(Philesturnus carunculatus) (9074225530).jpg

  South Island saddleback
  Philesturnus carunculatus

• North Island saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater) head Tiritiri Matangi.jpg

  North Island saddleback
  Philesturnus rufusater