The New Zealand Bellbird Anthoris melanura is a passerine bird that is endemic to New Zealand, and is commonly known simply as the ‘bellbird’. It is known to the Mori as Korimako. It has a bell-like song which is sometimes confused with that of the tui.
Status:
The bellbird is endemic throughout both the main islands of New Zealand but its population and dispersion has been seriously affected by the introduction of European-style farming, which has led to the removal of native forests (the natural habitat of the bellbird) and the introduction of predatory species such as cats, weasels, stoats, ferrets, rats and food-robbing species like wasps.
Predators either eat the birds or consume eggs, while food robbers compete with the bellbird for its natural food sources of nectar, honeydew and insects.
Notwithstanding the ecological pressures created by the above factors, the bellbird persists in areas of relatively undisturbed native forests, whilst conservation activity from the 1920’s has endeavoured to protect and promulgate the species. This has especially been the case in island enclaves that have been freed of predators.
There are four sub-species / races including nominate:
- Anthornis melanura melanura Anthornis melanura dumerii Anthornis melanura oneho Anthornis melanura obscura
The Chatham Island Bellbird, A. melanocephala, which became extinct in the early 20th century, was formerly classified as a subspecies of the New Zealand Bellbird, as A.melanura melanocephala.
Other bird species known as “Bellbirds”:
- Bellbirds (genus Procnias) from Central and South America
- Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis) from Australia
- Bell Miner (Manorina melanophrys) from Australia colloquially known as bellbird
Description
It has greenish coloration and is the only living member of the genus Anthornis.
The closely related Chatham Island Bellbird, Anthornis melanocephala, which became extinct in the early 20th century, was formerly considered another subspecies, as A. m. melanocephala.
Sound / Vocalization
The bellbird forms a significant component of the famed New Zealand dawn chorus of bird sounds that was much noted by early European settlers. The sound of the bellbird is included as one of the iconic bird sounds in the national radio programme of Radio New Zealand as played on early morning news programmes since about 1972.
