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Photo: Sabine's Sunbird / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

New Zealand Bellbird

Anthornis melanura

New Zealand Bellbird (Anthornis melanura) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.

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The New Zealand Bellbird (Anthornis melanura) is a member of the Meliphagidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 26.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Passeriformes
  3. Family Meliphagidae Honeyeaters
  4. Genus Anthornis
  5. Species melanura

Where it lives

North, South, Stewart is. and satellites and Auckland Is. (south of South I.; New Zealand)

Quick facts

Weight
26.9 g
Family
Meliphagidae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The New Zealand Bellbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The New Zealand Bellbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The New Zealand Bellbird (Anthornis melanura) is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU North, South, Stewart is. and satellites and Auckland Is. (s of South I.; New Zealand).

It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 26.9 g, with a wing length of about 8.6 cm and a tail of around 8 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 213,000 km².

Songs & calls

New Zealand Bellbird — Call, song

Recorded by Ken George Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the New Zealand Bellbird?

The New Zealand Bellbird is a small bird that weighs around 26.9 g.

Where does the New Zealand Bellbird live?

The New Zealand Bellbird is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU North, South, Stewart is. and satellites and Auckland Is. (s of South I.; New Zealand), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the New Zealand Bellbird belong to?

The New Zealand Bellbird (Anthornis melanura) belongs to the Meliphagidae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the New Zealand Bellbird eat?

The New Zealand Bellbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.

Does the New Zealand Bellbird migrate?

The New Zealand Bellbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the New Zealand Bellbird endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the New Zealand Bellbird make?

1 real field recording of the New Zealand Bellbird — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the New Zealand Bellbird's range?

The New Zealand Bellbird has a mapped global range of about 213,000 km².

Conservation

Least Concern

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

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