New Zealand Fernbird
Megalurus punctatus
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyLocustellidae (Grassbirds and Allies)
- GenusMegalurus
- SpeciesMegalurus punctatus (New Zealand Fernbird)
About the New Zealand Fernbird
The New Zealand fernbird or simply fernbird (Poodytes punctatus) is an insectivorous bird endemic to New Zealand. In the Māori language, it is named kōtātā or mātātā. The New Zealand fernbird, Poodytes punctatus, was described by the French zoologists Jean Quoy and Joseph Gaimard in 1832 from a specimen collected in Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere, South Island, New Zealand. They coined the binomial name, Synallaxis punctata.
In the past, this species had the binomial names Bowdleria punctatus, and more recently, Megalurus punctatus. Recent moluecular phylogenetic studies of the grassbird family Locustellidae have shown that the genus Megalurus was not monophyletic, resulting in the New Zealand fernbird, and four other Australasian species, now considered to be in the genus Poodytes.
There are five subspecies of New Zealand fernbird present on different islands. They differ in extent of reddish-brown and intensity of streaking, as well as size: Poodytes punctatus vealeae (Kemp, R, 1912) – North Island (New Zealand)
Poodytes punctatus punctatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832) – South Island (New Zealand) Poodytes punctatus stewartianus (Oliver, 1930) – Stewart Island (New Zealand... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of New Zealand Fernbird in Rakiura National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Rakiura National Park
Fernbird
Poodytes punctatus
Tūī
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
New Zealand Bellbird
Anthornis melanura
New Zealand Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa
Grey Warbler
Gerygone igata
South Island Robin
Petroica australis
Mōhua (Yellowhead)
Mohoua ochrocephala
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
South Island Saddleback
Philesturnus carunculatus
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Miromiro
Petroica macrocephala
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egmont National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Tongariro National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a New Zealand Fernbird in Rakiura National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Fernbird sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see New Zealand Fernbird in Rakiura National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for New Zealand Fernbird in Rakiura National Park in our monthly data.