Habits
In summer, small family parties. In winter, larger flocks, occisioally associating with parakeets. In spring, pairs or trios.
Food
Beetles and their larvae, moths, caterpillars, bugs, wetas and spiders, fruits.
Voice
Loud, penetrating, rapidly repeated notes described as a trill. A rapid shivering rattle, with variations, especially during breding season. Song is a number of fluid, musical notes sometimes ending in a guttural 'curr' or long trill of rapid staccato notes. A harsh scolding note uttered in alarm.
Yellowhead (Mohoua ochrocephala) [XC90259]
by Dan Lane from Routeburn, New Zealand (?)
Yellowhead (Mohoua ochrocephala) [XC345384]
by Guy Kirwan from Ulva Island, New Zealand (call, song)
Nest
In a hole, usually of a rotten stump, dead or dying tree, but sometimes a live tree, cup-shaped compoed of moss, rootlets, twigs, leaves bound together by spiders web, lined with feathers and fine grass, located in the canopy usually more than 6 m above the ground.
Eggs (Guide)
2 - 4; pinkish-white to reddish-cream minutely and faintly freckled with pale reddish-brown; round-oval. Incubation: about 21 days; by femle.
Young
Fledge in about 17 - 18 days.
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Sometimes treated as conspecific with Whitehead (Mohoua albicilla)
BirdLife International Species Factsheet