Photo: Duncan Wright / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
North Island Saddleback
Philesturnus rufusater
North Island Saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The North Island Saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater) is a member of the Callaeidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 74.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Callaeidae New Zealand Wattlebirds
- Genus Philesturnus
- Species rufusater
Quick facts
- Weight
- 74.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Callaeidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Extinct
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The North Island Saddleback is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The North Island Saddleback is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The North Island Saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater) is a species of bird in the Callaeidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU North I., now mainly on satellites (New Zealand).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 74.7 g, with a wing length of about 10.7 cm and a tail of around 10.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 87 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the North Island Saddleback?
The North Island Saddleback is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 74.7 g.
Where does the North Island Saddleback live?
The North Island Saddleback is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU North I., now mainly on satellites (New Zealand), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the North Island Saddleback belong to?
The North Island Saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater) belongs to the Callaeidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the North Island Saddleback eat?
The North Island Saddleback is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the North Island Saddleback migrate?
The North Island Saddleback is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the North Island Saddleback endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the North Island Saddleback make?
1 real field recording of the North Island Saddleback — 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 North Island Saddleback's range?
The North Island Saddleback has a mapped global range of about 87 km².
Conservation
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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