Rifleman
Acanthisitta chloris
Silhouette: Wynston Cooper (photo) and Albertonykus (silhouette) · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyAcanthisittidae (New Zealand Wrens)
- GenusAcanthisitta (Rifleman)
- SpeciesAcanthisitta chloris (Rifleman)
About the Rifleman
The rifleman (Acanthisitta chloris) (Māori: titipounamu or tītitipounamu) is a small insectivorous passerine bird that is endemic to New Zealand. It belongs to the family Acanthisittidae, also known as the New Zealand wrens, of which it is one of only two surviving species. The rifleman resembles a wren in form, but is not related to the family of true wrens, Troglodytidae, nor the fairy-wrens of Australia.
The rifleman was described by Anders Sparrman in 1787 based on a bird collected in Queen Charlotte Sound in the Marlborough Sounds of New Zealand's South Island. He originally placed it in the nuthatch genus Sitta. Frédéric de Lafresnaye placed it in its own monotypic genus Acanthisitta in 1842. The name Acanthisitta is a portmanteau of the thornbill genus Acanthiza and the genus Sitta.
The rifleman is named after a colonial New Zealand regiment because its plumage drew similarities with the military uniform of a rifleman. The rifleman is New Zealand's smallest endemic bird, with fully grown adults reaching around 7 to 9 cm (2.8–3.5 in) in length. Male birds typically weigh around 6 g (0.21 oz), females 7 g (0.25 oz). The bill of the female is also... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Rifleman in Fiordland National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Fiordland National Park
South Island Wren
Xenicus gilviventris
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
New Zealand Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa
New Zealand Bellbird
Anthornis melanura
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
Tūī
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
Grey Warbler
Gerygone igata
Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
Miromiro
Petroica macrocephala
Silvereye
Zosterops lateralis
South Island Robin
Petroica australis
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Tongariro National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 6 | Egmont National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 7 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Rifleman in Fiordland National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Rifleman sighting in Fiordland National Park, based on 897 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Rifleman in Fiordland National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Rifleman in Fiordland National Park in our monthly data.