The Stitchbird (Hihi)

07/28/24 • 30 min

Come and learn all about New Zealand's only bird to be the sole member of its family.
Snitches get stitchbirds!
Follow me on instagram: matt.rossella
Support the podcast on patreon: patreon.com/blurbs439
References:

Angehr, G. R. (1984). A bird in the hand: Andreas Reischek and the Stitchbird. Notornis, 31(4), 300-311.
Duntsch, L. (2022). Genomic insights into the adaptive potential of the hihi (Notiomystis cincta), a threatened Aotearoa New Zealand bird (Doctoral dissertation, ResearchSpace@ Auckland).
Duntsch, L., Tomotani, B. M., de Villemereuil, P., Brekke, P., Lee, K. D., Ewen, J. G., & Santure, A. W. (2020). Polygenic basis for adaptive morphological variation in a threatened Aotearoa| New Zealand bird, the hihi (Notiomystis cincta). Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 287(1933), 20200948.
Ewen, J. G., Flux, I., & Ericson, P. G. (2006). Systematic affinities of two enigmatic New Zealand passerines of high conservation priority, the hihi or stitchbird Notiomystis cincta and the kokako Callaeas cinerea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 40(1), 281-284.
Ewen, J. G., Renwick, R., Adams, L., Armstrong, D. P., Parker, K. A., & North, N. Z. D. (2013). 1980-2012: 32 years of re-introduction efforts of the hihi (stitchbird) in New Zealand. Global Re-introduction Perspectives: 2013. Further case studies from around the globe, 68.
Low, M. (2010). Which factors limited Stitchbird population growth on Mokoia Island?. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 269-271.
Low, M., & Pärt, T. (2009). Patterns of mortality for each life‐history stage in a population of the endangered New Zealand stitchbird. Journal of Animal Ecology, 78(4), 761-771.
Makan, T., Castro, I., Robertson, A. W., Joy, M. K., & Low, M. (2014). Habitat complexity and management intensity positively influence fledging success in the endangered hihi (Notiomystis cincta). New Zealand journal of ecology, 53-63.
Rasch, G. (1985). The ecology of cavity nesting in the stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta). New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 12(4), 637-642.
Rippon, R. J., Alley, M. R., & Castro, I. (2011). Causes of mortality in a nestling population of free-living hihi (stitchbird—Notiomystis cincta). New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 38(3), 207-222.
Roper, M. M., & Brunton, D. H. (2024). Do hihi lose access to supplemental feeders because of the presence of korimako?. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 51(2), 317-333.
Selwyn, R. E., Lenting, B., Beaven, K. C., & Irwin, E. T. (2022). Successful use of intraspecific parental fostering in the management of an endemic threatened bird: New Zealand’s hihi (Notiomystis cincta). Notornis, 69, 116-118.
Smith, C., Walker, L. K., & Ewen, J. G. (2015). Age and sex criteria for the hihi (Notiomystis cincta) with additional details on moult patterns. Notornis, 62(3), 135-142.

Book used for research:

Birdstories - Geoff Norman

Birds New Zealand - beauty like no other - Paul Gibson (2nd ed.)

Birds of New Zealand and Outlying Islands - M.F. Soper

Complete Book of New Zealand Birds - Readers Digest

New Zealand Birds and how to identify them - Pérrine Moncrieff (5th ed.)

New Zealand’s Native Birds Of Bush And Countryside - Penguin Pocket Guides

The Brilliance of Birds - Skye Wishart & Edin Whitehead

The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand - Barrie Heather & Hugh Robertson

Support the show

Book used for research:

Birdstories - Geoff Norman

Birds New Zealand - beauty like no other - Paul Gibson (2nd ed.)

Birds of New Zealand and Outlying Islands - M.F. Soper

Complete Book of New Zealand Birds - Readers Digest

New Zealand Birds and how to identify them - Pérrine Moncrieff (5th ed.)

New Zealand’s Native Birds Of Bush And Countryside - Penguin Pocket Guides

The Brilliance of Birds - Skye Wishart & Edin Whitehead

The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand - Barrie Heather & Hugh Robertson

Support the show

Previous Episode

Time Travel: New Zealand Avifauna Before Humans

Come on a time travelling journey with me to somewhere I wish I could go for a day! Pre-human New Zealand, when birds ruled the land.
Follow me on instagram: matt.rossella
Support my dream of turning this podcast into a part time job by contributing on patreon: patreon.com/blurbs439
Books used for research:

Birdstories - Geoff Norman

References:

Brathwaite, D. H. (1992). Notes on the weight, flying ability, habitat, and prey of Haast’s Eagle (Harpagornis moorei). Notornis, 39(4), 239-247.
Carpenter, J. K., Innes, J. G., Wood, J. R., & Lyver, P. O’B. (2021). Good predators: the roles of weka (Gallirallus australis) in New Zealand’s past and present ecosystems. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 45(1), 1-14.
Gill, B. J. (2003). Osteometry and systematics of the extinct New Zealand ravens (Aves: Corvidae: Corvus). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 1(1), 43-58.
Gill, B. J., Furey, L., & Ash, E. (2020). The Moa Fauna (Aves: Dinornithiformes) of the Auckland and Coromandel Regions, New Zealand. Records of the Auckland Museum, 55, 85-100.
Holdaway, R. N. (1989). New Zealand's pre-human avifauna and its vulnerability. New Zealand journal of ecology, 11-25.
Holdaway, R. N., Worthy, T. H., & Tennyson, A. J. (2001). A working list of breeding bird species of the New Zealand region at first human contact. New Zealand journal of zoology, 28(2), 119-187.
McGlone, M. S. (1989). The Polynesian settlement of New Zealand in relation to environmental and biotic changes. New Zealand journal of ecology, 115-129.
Wood, J. R., Richardson, S. J., McGlone, M. S., & Wilmshurst, J. M. (2020). The diets of moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes). New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 44(1), 1-21.
Wood, J. R., Scofield, R. P., Hamel, J., Lalas, C., & Wilmshurst, J. M. (2017). Bone stable isotopes indicate a high trophic position for New Zealand’s extinct South Island adzebill (Aptornis defossor)(Gruiformes: Aptornithidae). New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 41(2), 240-244.
Worthy, T. H. (1990). An analysis of the distribution and relative abundance of moa species (Aves: Dinornithiformes). New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 17(2), 213-241.
Worthy, T. H., & Scofield, R. P. (2012). Twenty-first century advances in knowledge of the biology of moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes): a new morphological analysis and moa diagnoses revised. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 39(2), 87-153.

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Next Episode

Dialects In Tūī

Come and learn about tūī, the vocal acrobats of New Zealand!
Follow me on instagram: matt.rossella
Support the podcast on patreon: patreon.com/blurbs439
Links:
tūī vocalisation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqw9LvW2nvw
tūī mimicking human speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij78s460oQM
References:
Hill, S. D. (2011). The vocalisation of tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae): a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Conservation Biology, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand (Doctoral dissertation, Massey University).
Hill, S. D. (2014). Influences of environmental and biological factors on song complexity in songbirds. Massey University.
Hill, S. D., Amiot, C., Ludbrook, M. R., & Ji, W. (2015). Seasonal variation in the song structure of tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae). New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 39(1), 110-115.
Hill, S. D., Brunton, D. H., Anderson, M. G., & Ji, W. (2018). Fighting talk: complex song elicits more aggressive responses in a vocally complex songbird. Ibis, 160(2), 257-268.
Hill, S. D., & Ji, W. (2013). Microgeographic variation in song phrases of tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae). Notornis, 60(3), 262-264.
Hill, S. D., & Ji, W. (2014). Categorisation of common syllable types in the complex vocalisations of tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae). Notornis, 61(1), 54-56.
Hill, S. D., Ji, W., Parker, K. A., Amiot, C., & Wells, S. J. (2013). A comparison of vocalisations between mainland tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae) and Chatham Island tui (P. n. chathamensis). New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 214-223.
Hill, S. D., Pawley, M. D., Anderson, M. G., & Ji, W. (2018). Higher song complexity and intruder pressure at dawn in a vocally complex songbird. Emu-Austral Ornithology, 118(2), 147-157.