“This fine subspecies, which represents on the Chatham Islands its smaller ally in New Zealand, was first discovered by Dieffenbach who visited the group in 1839. Buller visited the the Chathams in 1855 and obtained a specimen. In 1871, Travers found it on all the islands but mostly on Mangere. About 25 years aferwards it was reported as ‘going fast’ by a collector, who shot all he could for monetary gain, and in 1924 Archey and Lindsay failed to find it at all.
“The Chatham Island bellbird differs from the New Zealand form in the larger size of the male, in having more steel blue on the head and the less amount of yellow in the plumage. There is no yellow patch on the side.
“The only nest that has been preserved is in the Canterbury Museum. It is composed of fine sticks, grass and roots, and lined with grass.
“Travers noted that the song of the Chatham Island bellbird was richer and fuller than that of its New Zealand congener.”
It was last observed in 1906 on Little Mangare Island.
Other common names: —
Description: —
Endemic bird
General colour olive green, forehead and crown steel blue, changing to purplish blue on the sides of head and throat, bill black, iris yellow, feet brown.
Where to find: —
Illustration description: —
Gray, George Robert & Sharpe, R. Bowdler. The Zoology of the voyage of HMS Erebus & Terror. Birds of New Zealand., E.W. Janson, London 1875. The revised edition of Gray (1846).
Reference(s): —
Oliver, W.R.B., New Zealand Birds, 1955.
Page date & version: —
Saturday, 17 May, 2014; ver2009v1