Coenocorypha

Globally threatened endemic seabirds include the Chatham Island oystercatcher (Haematopus chathamensis VU), Chatham Island snipe (Coenocorypha pusilla VU), Chatham Island petrel (Pterodroma axillaris CR).

Chatham Island temperate forests 2008

The Snares crested penguin (Eudyptes robustus VU) is restricted to these islands, as is a subspecies of New Zealand snipe (Coenocorypha aucklandica huegeli).

Rakiura Island temperate forests 2008

New Zealand snipe (Coenocorypha aucklandica) were once widespread on the North Island, but had largely declined by Polynesian settlement, persisting only on Little Barrier Island until the 1870s.

Northland temperate kauri forests 2008

Other endemic taxa of land birds include the Auckland Islands Rail Lewinia muelleri (VU), the Antipodes Parakeet Cyanoramphus unicolor (VU), snipe Coenocorypha aucklandica (LR) on Campbell, Snares, Antipodes and Auckland Islands, tomtits (Petroica macrocephala) on Snares and Auckland Island, and the Banded Dotterel Charadrius bicinctus exilis.

Subantarctic Islands, New Zealand 2008

Needless to say, more likely candidates are on offer and Miskelly (1987) suggested that New Zealand snipe (Coenocorypha) might actually be the culprit.

Archive 2006-03-01 Darren Naish 2006