New Zealand: extreme north-eastern and south-western South I (Motuara I, in Queen Charlotte Sound, and islands off Fiordland) and islands off Stewart I. Recently introduced to Erin I, in Lake Te Anau (Fiordland).
Clutch Size: 2, rarely 3
Color: pale brown or pale grey and blotched all over brown and pale brown, especially at the larger end
Incubation: by both sexes
Subspecies
Genus sometimes listed as Creadion. Often treated as conspecific with North Island Saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater), but differs in details of adult plumage, morphometrics, behaviour and vocalizations, and especially in possession of a distinct juvenile plumage.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
carunculatus (Gmelin, 1789) - Extreme north-east and south-west South Island (Motuara Island, in Queen Charlotte Sound, and islands off Fiordland) and islands off Stewart Island. Recently introduced to Erin Island, in Lake Te Anau (Fiordland).
rufusater (Lesson, 1828) - Self-sustaining populations now restricted to islands off northen coast, also Kapiti Island, off southern coast. Attempted establishment of at least three populations within fenced mainland sites on North Island. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, North Island Saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet