science education resource

Tieke (Saddleback)

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Philesturnus carunculatus
Tieke (Saddleback)

Range

They are found on the offshore islands of New Zealand.

Habitat

They live in the forest.

Body Traits

They are medium-sized birds at 9 – 10 inches long. Both males and females look alike. They are black with reddish-brown shoulders and rump. They have reddish little pieces of skin called a “wattles” on either side of their mouths (it is bigger in the males).

Habits

They have many sweet-sounding songs and sing to attract a mate and show their territory. They are very endangered. Young saddlebacks are called "jack-birds." Because their predators are all introduced animals, saddlebacks have been become endangered. They have not had time to evolve and adapt to the new predators. Young leave the nest before they can fly so are killed by cats and weasels (stoats). They nest in hollow trees where new predators can kill them easily.

Diet

They eat flower nectar, fruit, insects, grubs and seeds.

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

Females warm (incubate) eggs for 3 weeks.

Tieke (Saddleback)

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Callaeidae
Genus:  Philesturnus
Species: P. carunculatus

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Tieke (Saddleback)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 29, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/86 >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.