The Saddleback or Tieke Philesturnus carunculatus is a previously rare and endangered New Zealand bird of the family Callaeidae. It has a glossy black with a red-chestnut saddle. Its taxonomic family is also known as that of the (New Zealand) "wattlebirds." All members of this family have colored fleshy appendages on either side of the beak known as "wattles." In the case of Saddleback, they are a vivid red in color.
The Saddleback was first described by German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789. Its common name is derived from the demarkated brown plumage on its back which resembles a saddle. The Maori name of Tieke is from the particular sound of one of this species' common calls: ti-e-ke-ke-ke-ke.
These photos were taken on the Mokoia Island Wildlife Preserve in Lake Rotorua at Rotorua, NZ.
There is a video of the Saddleback and its song in the MOVIES folder.
© 2010 David Comings Contact Me