New Zealand Fernbird (Poodytes punctatus) [XC206475]
by Dan Lane from Tokaanu, Taupo District, Waikato, New Zealand (song)
New Zealand Fernbird (Poodytes punctatus) [XC776939]
by Nathan El from Kawakawa, Far North District, Northland, New Zealand (call, song)
Nest
Cup-shaped composed of longer needle shapes leaves of tussock, or dried rushes, neatly woven, lined with seabird feathers at the base of ferns, in crowns or base of tussocks, shrubs, rushes and occiosanlly at the open end of hollow trunks, close to the ground.
Eggs (Guide)
2 4; mauve-pink, heavily flecked with mauve-brown to purple brown especially at the larger end; oval. Incubation: about 12 - 16 days; by both parents.
Young
Fledge in 12 - 21 days.
Subspecies
Often placed in a monotypic genus, Bowdleria, a treatment supported by certain anatomical features, but data derived from DNA-DNA hybridization suggest that it is closely related to Tawny Grassbird (Cincloramphus timoriensis) and, in particular, Little Grassbird (Poodytes gramineus). Further research is required. Distinctive subspecies caudatus possibly a separate species. Considerably larger Chatham Is subspecies rufescens (also with throat and most of underparts white) now extinct. Was sometimes treated as a separate species, and has been suggested that it might be more closely related to Fijian Long-legged Thicketbird (Megalurulus rufus) than to other subspecies of present species.
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
punctatus (Quoy and Gaimard, 1830) - South Island, in New Zealand.
vealeae (Kemp, R, 1912) - North Island, in New Zealand.
stewartianus (Oliver, 1930) - Stewart Island.
wilsoni (Stead, 1936) - Codfish Island (off north-west Stewart Island).
caudatus (Buller, 1894) - Snares Islands (south of Stewart Island). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Snares Fernbird (Poodytes caudatus).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet