Callaeidae

Callaeidae (sometimes Callaeatidae) is a family of passerine birds endemic to New Zealand. It contains three genera, with five species in the family. One species, the huia, became extinct early in the 20th century, while the South Island kōkako is critically endangered and may be extinct.

New Zealand wattlebirds
Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Superfamily:	Corvoidea
Family:	Callaeidae Sundevall, 1836
Genera
Callaeas Philesturnus Heteralocha

Although sometimes known as wattled crows, they are not corvids and are only distantly related to crows - New Zealand wattlebirds is the informal name for this family used by the scientific community.^[1]

Biology and evolution

They are ground-dwelling songbirds, 26–38 cm in length. They inhabit dense forests, where they feed on insects. They have strong legs and featherless wattles behind the bill. Their wings are rounded and unusually weak, giving them very limited powers of flight. They are monogamous and maintain permanent territories.^[2]

These birds seem to be remnants of an early expansion of passerines to New Zealand. Their only close relative is the stitchbird.^[3]

The phylogenetic relationships between the species shown below is based on a study published in 2022. The South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus) was not sampled.^[4]

	Notiomystidae Notiomystis cincta – stitchbird Callaeidae Callaeas Callaeas wilsoni – North Island kōkako Callaeas cinereus – South Island kōkako (possibly extinct) Philesturnus Philesturnus rufusater – North Island saddleback Heteralocha Heteralocha acutirostris – Huia (extinct)

Species

• Genus Callaeas
  • North Island kōkako, Callaeas wilsoni
  • South Island kōkako, Callaeas cinereus (possibly extinct)
• Genus Philesturnus
  • North Island saddleback, Philesturnus rufusater
  • South Island saddleback, Philesturnus carunculatus
• Genus Heteralocha
  • Huia, Heteralocha acutirostris (extinct)

Gallery

• 
  Huia, Heteralocha acutirostris (extinct)
• 
  North Island kōkako, Callaeas wilsoni
• 
  South Island saddleback
  Philesturnus carunculatus
• 
  North Island saddleback
  Philesturnus rufusater