Rifleman / Titipounamu
A female Rifleman seen along the Bealey Valley track in Arthur's Pass.
Endemic to New Zealand, the rifleman is generally considered to be New Zealand’s smallest bird at 6 g (the equally light-weight grey warbler has a longer tail). It is one of only two surviving species within the ancient endemic New Zealand wren family. Riflemen are small forest-dwelling insectivores, and are constantly on the move, producing a characteristic ‘wing-flicking’ while moving through the canopy and foraging up and down tree trunks.
Riflemen are sexually dimorphic. Males are smaller than females and have bright green on the head and back. Females are mainly yellow-brown with darker speckles on the head and back. Both sexes have pale grey under-parts. The black bill is slender, pointed, and angled slightly upwards.
Rifleman / Titipounamu
A female Rifleman seen along the Bealey Valley track in Arthur's Pass.
Endemic to New Zealand, the rifleman is generally considered to be New Zealand’s smallest bird at 6 g (the equally light-weight grey warbler has a longer tail). It is one of only two surviving species within the ancient endemic New Zealand wren family. Riflemen are small forest-dwelling insectivores, and are constantly on the move, producing a characteristic ‘wing-flicking’ while moving through the canopy and foraging up and down tree trunks.
Riflemen are sexually dimorphic. Males are smaller than females and have bright green on the head and back. Females are mainly yellow-brown with darker speckles on the head and back. Both sexes have pale grey under-parts. The black bill is slender, pointed, and angled slightly upwards.