| Bushwren | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bushwrenc. 1911 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Acanthisittidae |
| Genus: | Xenicus |
| Species: | †X. longipes |
| Binomial name | |
| †Xenicus longipes (Gmelin, 1789) | |
 | |
| Native range on the map of New Zealand: Subsp.stokesi Subsp.longipes Subsp.variabilis | |
Thebushwren (Xenicus longipes), also known as themātuhituhi in theMāori language, was a very small and almostflightless bird that was endemic toNew Zealand. It had three subspecies on each of the major islands of New Zealand, theNorth Island,South Island, andStewart Island / Rakiura and nearby smaller islands. The species disappeared gradually after the introduction of invasive mammalian predators, last being seen on the North Island in 1955 and the South Island in 1968. Attempts were made to save the remaining population on small islands off Stewart Island, but they ultimately failed with the death of the last remaining known birds in 1972.
German naturalistJohann Friedrich Gmelin described the bushwren in 1789.
It grew to about 9 cm long and 16 g in weight. It fed mostly oninvertebrates, which it captured by running along the branches of trees. It nested on or near the ground.
Bushwrens had a hopping or bobbing movement, with a fast running speed on the ground or branches. Their call was a 'subdued trill' or 'seep', sometimes repeated in quick succession. They built spherical nests near the ground with an entrance on the side, and typically laid two eggs in November or December.[2]
It was widespread throughout the main islands of the country until the late 19th century whenmustelids were introduced and joinedrats asinvasive mammalian predators. The only authenticated reports of theNorth Island subspecies (X. l. stokesi) since 1900 were from the southernRimutaka Range in 1918 and theUreweras up to 1955, with probable sightings on June 13, 1949, nearLake Waikareiti, and several times in the first half of the 20th century in theHuiarau Range and fromKapiti Island in 1911.[3][4][5] Apparently, the last population lived in the area whereTe Urewera National Park was established, just around the time of its extinction.
The last authenticated reports of theSouth Island subspecies (X. l. longipes) were fromArthur's Pass in 1966 andNelson Lakes National Park in 1968. There have been a few unsubstantiated reports since then fromFiordland and Nelson Lakes.
The third subspecies, the Stewart Island bushwren or Stead's bushwren (X. l. variabilis), was found onStewart Island / Rakiura and nearby islands. It is known to have survived on Stewart Island until 1951,[6] but was probably exterminated there byferalcats. It lived onKotiwhenua (Solomon) Island, being reasonably common, until the early 1960s. It survived on predator-freeTaukihepa / Big South Cape Island untilblack rats (R. rattus) invaded it in 1964. TheNew Zealand Wildlife Service attempted to save the species by relocating all the birds they could capture. They caught six birds and transferred them toKaimohu Island, where they did not survive and they finally died out in 1972.[1]
