South Island Saddleback
A species of Saddlebacks, Also known as Jackbird Scientific name : Philesturnus carunculatus Genus : Saddlebacks
South Island Saddleback, A species of Saddlebacks
Also known as:
Jackbird
Botanical name: Philesturnus carunculatus
Genus: Saddlebacks
Content
Description General Info
Photo By silversea_starsong , used under CC-BY-NC-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The South Island saddleback or tīeke (Philesturnus carunculatus) is a forest bird in the New Zealand wattlebird family which is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Both the North Island saddleback and this species were formerly considered conspecific. The Department of Conservation currently has the South Island saddleback listed as At Risk--Declining. 
Size
25 cm
Feeding Habits
South Island Saddleback predominantly feeds on invertebrates, berries, and occasionally on honeydew, nectar, and fruits. It forages mostly on the ground and uses a gleaning technique, alongside a unique 'gaping' method to pry bark. It's skilled at picking insects off leaves and licks honeydew like a parrot, sometimes using feet for support.
Habitat
South Island Saddleback predominantly inhabits evergreen coastal forests and mixed lowland broadleaf forests, including seral forest and second-growth areas. These environments are typically found on offshore islands where they have been translocated as part of conservation efforts. The species favors areas with dense vegetation which may range in elevation up to 152 meters. Previously, the native habitat included regions dominated by Olearia tree daisies and southern rata. Following translocations, south Island Saddleback seems to prefer coastal scrub for establishing breeding territories, paralleling the habitat features of their historical range.
Dite type
Omnivorous
General Info
Distribution Area
During the early 19th century, South Island saddlebacks were widely distributed throughout the South and Stewart Islands. However, by the end of the century, the species was in decline and nearing extinction due to introduced predators. By 1905, the saddlebacks were confined to the South Cape Islands, off the coast of Stewart Island. In 1962, ship rats were introduced to Big South Cape Island, causing the extinction of the greater short-tailed bat, Stewart Island snipe and the Stead's bush wren. In early 1964, 36 individuals on Big South Cape Island were translocated by the New Zealand Wildlife Service to pest-free islands. Big Island received 21 individuals, whilst Kaimohu Island received 15. Further translocations and predator removal allowed the population to recover, with the current population estimated to be around 2000.
Species Status
A threatened species recovery plan was established by the Department of Conservation in 1994, with the aims of maintaining wild populations, adopting quarantine procedures, and removing predators from islands potentially suitable for translocating members of the species.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Wattled crows Genus
Saddlebacks Species
South Island Saddleback 
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