Saddleback on Harakeke

Description

The saddleback or tīeke belongs to New Zealand’s unique wattlebird family, an ancient group which includes the endangered kōkako and the extinct huia.

There are two species: North Island saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater) and South Island saddleback (P. carunculatus). The more endangered of the two species is the South Island saddleback, with only around 650 birds in existence.