Bush Wren

It was widespread throughout the main islands of the country until the late 19th century when mustelids were introduced and joined rats as invasive mammalian predators. The only authenticated reports of the North Island subspecies since 1900 were from the southern Rimutaka Range in 1918 and the Ureweras up to 1955, with probable sightings on June 13, 1949, near Lake Waikareiti, and several times in the first half of the 20th century in the Huiarau Range, and from Kapiti Island in 1911 . Apparently, the last population lived in the area where Te Urewera National Park was established, ironically just around the time of its extinction.

The Bush Wren is classified as Extinct (EX), there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.

The Bushwren (Xenicus longipes), Bush Wren, or Mātuhituhi in Maori, was a very small and almost flightless bird endemic to New Zealand. It grew to about 9 cm long and 16 g in weight. It fed mostly on invertebrates which it captured by running along the branches of trees. It nested on or near the ground. It was widespread throughout the main islands of the country until the late 19th century when mustelids were introduced and joined rats as invasive mammalian predators. More

Both subspecies of the New Zealand bush wren Xenicus longipes were the fourth New Zealand wren extinction. The last recorded sighting of the North Island subspecies Xenicus longipes stokesi was in the Te Urewera Range in 1955. The South Island subspecies Xenicus longipes longipes was last sighted in Nelson Lakes National Park in 1968 and Kaimohu Island off Stewart Island in 1972. More

Bush Wren - Definition = Bush Wren Conservation status: Extinct (1972) Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Acanthisittidae Genus: Xenicus Species: longipes Binomial name More

the Stephens Island Wren and the Bush Wren, became extinct after the arrival of Europeans, with the Bush Wren surviving until 1972. Of the two remaining species the Rifleman is still common on both North and South Island, while the South Island Wren is restricted to the alpine areas of South Island and is considered vulnerable. More

acquaintance to be the bush wren of New Zealand, writes Guthrie–Smith. "I waited to see more of the stranger whose proximity could be detected by stir of the vegetation into which it had pitched shivering of fronds, rustle of rough sedge. After many momentary, tantalising glimpses of the bird, which was feeding in company with a mate — I could hear them talking — one of the pair crossed the path, affording a good view, and corroborating what I had suspected as to species. More

variabilis or Stead's Bush Wren, was found on Stewart Island/Rakiura and nearby islands. It is known to have survived on Stewart Island until 1951 (Dawson, 1951) but was probably exterminated by feral cats. It lived on Kotiwhenua (Solomon) Island, being reasonably common, until the early 1960s. It survived on predator-free Big South Cape Island until Black Rats invaded it in 1964. The New Zealand Wildlife Service attempted to save the species by relocating all the birds they could capture. More

The bush wren or matuhi, a 4-in (9-cm) forest insectivore, was formerly widespread throughout North, South, and Stewart Islands. The last population lived on rat-free Big South Cape Island (near Stewart Island, off the southeast coast of South Island) until Norway rats jumped ship onto the island in 1961 and subsequently exterminated the bush wren. None have been seen anywhere since 1972. The Stephens Island wren was endemic to the tiny islet between North and South Islands. More

The number of bush wrens (Xenicus longipes) declined on the mainland of New Zealand during the 19th century because of predation by rats, and there were few sightings in the 20th century. The last population, on Big South Cape Island, was decimated by rats. Although six birds were transferred to a nearby rat-free island in 1964, they did not survive and the species was extinct by 1972. More

The Bush Wren Xenicus longipes might still survive in remote parts of Fjordland, although it is generally considered to be extinct. There were three subspecies: X. l. longipes which lived on South Island, X. l. stokesii from North Island and X. l. variabilis which inhabited Stewart Island. The North Island Bush Wren has always been rare: the only museum specimens of this race are the so-called type-specimens from which the species was originally described. The South Island Bush Wren was last sighted in the 1972. More

bush wren was last seen in 1955, and the South Is. subspecies in 1972. Stead's bush wren was wiped out by rats on three islands off Stewart Island in 1964. See more Stephen's Island wren North Island takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri - The takahe is the largest living member of the rail family. Takahe were hunted until they were rarely found in the 19th century. More

Nests of the bush wren are unusually difficult of detection, the openings into them even in good light almost imperceptible. ... http://www.nzbirds.com/StephensWren.html Stephens Island Wren: The fourth species to go was the bush wren. Another island reserve, kept almost as pristine as a muttonbird island, was its last outpost. ... http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/heywood/geog358/extinctb/SteaWren.htm Extinction: Stead's Bush Wren UWSP GEOG358 : Stead's Bush Wren (Xenicus longipes variabilis). last observed ca. 1955 on Stewart Island. arboreal island forest insectivore endemic ... More

Stead’s bush wren (4th of 4) = Stead’s bush wren Stead’s bush wren (4th of 4) After rats invaded Big South Cape Island in 1964, the rare Stead’s bush wren became threatened. Specimens were transferred to nearby rat-free islands, but they did not breed there. The wren is now believed to be extinct. More

bush wren and the Stephens Island wren have died out since European colonisation of New Zealand. The Stephens Island wren was wiped out by the lighthouse keeper’s cat. The remaining two, the rifleman and the rock wren, are in decline. The rifleman can still be seen in many places, but many people will never see a rock wren. We don’t know for sure how many rock wren are left, but anecdotal evidence has long suggested that their range is shrinking. More

Unlike the bush wren which is constantly taking dry feathers in and wet feathers out both during incubation of the eggs and rearing of the young, the rock wren seemed to prefer to make a thorough job at the beginning. More