
huia
Sign in to saveAlso known as Heteralocha acutirostris
The huia ( ; ; Heteralocha acutirostris) is an extinct species of New Zealand wattlebird, endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. The last confirmed sighting of a huia was in 1907, although there was another credible sighting in 1924.
Wikidata facts
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- Huia Buller.jpg
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- taxon name
- Heteralocha acutirostris
- Commons category
- Heteralocha acutirostris
- Commons gallery
- Heteralocha acutirostris
- taxon common name
- uía
- short name
- H. acutirostris
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Article
16 sectionsContents
- Taxonomy and etymology
- Description
- Distribution and habitat
- Ecology and behaviour
- Movements
- Feeding and ecology
- Voice
- Commensals and parasites
- Social behaviour and reproduction
- Relationship with humans
- In culture
- Extinction
- References
- Bibliography
- Further reading
- External links
The huia ( ; ; Heteralocha acutirostris) is an extinct species of New Zealand wattlebird, endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. The last confirmed sighting of a huia was in 1907, although there was another credible sighting in 1924.
It was already a rare bird before the arrival of Europeans, confined to the Ruahine, Tararua, Rimutaka and Kaimanawa mountain ranges in the south-east of the North Island. It was remarkable for its pronounced sexual dimorphism in bill shape; the female's beak was long, thin and arched downward, while the male's was short and stout, like that of a crow. Males were long, while females were larger at . The sexes were otherwise similar, with orange wattles and deep metallic, bluish-black plumage with a greenish iridescence on the upper surface, especially about the head. The tail feathers were unique among New Zealand birds in having a broad white band across the tips.