Nature's nectar guardian

Although korimako have a toothbrush-like tongue adapted for reaching deep into flowers to access nectar, their diet also includes fruits and insects. While feeding on nectar they help pollinate many native trees and shrubs. When they later eat the fruits those plants produce, they disperse the seeds. In this way, the korimako supports forest regeneration in two important ways: through pollination and seed dispersal.

Same bird, different suit

This species is ‘sexually dimorphic’, which is a scientific way of saying that the lads and lasses look different from each other. Males are olive-green, have a dark purple sheen on their head with blackish wings and tail. The females are browner with a narrow white/yellow stripe across the cheek from the base of the bill and a bluish gloss on top of their heads. Which do you think dresses better?

Singing a sweet song

Camouflaged among the trees, you’ll often hear a korimako before you see it.
Captain Cook described it as sounding like ‘small bells exquisitely tuned.’ Their bell-like song can travel long distances through the forest and have distinct dialects between regions. If you’re south of the Waikato, keep your ears open and you might hear them sing a lovely tune.

At the Zoo

The korimako can be found in the High Country habitat in Te Wao Nui. This habitat represents all the iconic elements of the South Island and they happily share this space with a pair of takahē.

In the Wild

Origin: Aotearoa New Zealand

Habitat: Terrestrial (Forest, shrubland)

Conservation status: IUCN – Least Concern

Korimako numbers declined sharply during the 1860s in the North Island and 1880s in the South Island. This coincides with the arrival of European settlers that brought rats and stoats in an attempt to control rabbits.  

Korimako can be found throughout the North, South, Stewart and Auckland Islands, but are notably rare on the mainland from Waikato northwards, other than the Coromandel Peninsula.

Bellbirds have been extinct in Auckland for more than 100 years, due to the arrival of introduced mammalian predators such as rats and stoats. Thankfully, due to mainland sanctuaries like Tāwharanui and Shakespear Park, bellbirds have returned back to these sites from island sanctuaries throughout the Hauraki gulf.

How we’re helping

At Auckland Zoo, we have an advocacy population of korimako so our visitors can learn about this amazing species.

How you can help

You can help by plant native shrubs and trees in your garden. You can also help by keep New Zealand predator free, whether that means trapping pests such as mice, rats and possums around your property, or ensuring your pets aren’t threatening wildlife by keeping dogs on a leash or cats indoors.