Ngutuparore – Wrybill (or wrybilled plover) – Anarhynchus frontalis
Photographed at Ashley River Estuary, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Endemic to New Zealand, and the only bird in the world with a bill that twists sideways instead of being either bent up or bent down. In the wrybill’s case, the bend is always to the bird’s right. It breeds in the braided shingle rivers of the South Island only, but disperses widely throughout the North Island over winter, returning to the South Island in late winter early spring (August).
Classified as nationally vulnerable, there are only some 4000 birds remaining. The main reasons for their decline seem to be introduced mammalian predators, habitat destruction and weed invasion. These birds breed on bare river shingles, usually shingle islands within the braided channels of our inland rivers. But this habitat is increasingly being invaded by introduced weeds such as willow, gorse and lupin, which decreases the bare areas of shingle needed for breeding and also provides cover for introduced predators.
Eggs are laid from late August to January, many pairs laying two clutches per season. The blue-grey of the adults, eggs and chicks blends well with the dominant greywacke shingle. Two eggs are laid. Both sexes incubate for about 30 days and fledging is about another 30+ days.
The wry bill allows the birds to easily reach under flat river stones for water insects. They will also sieve tidal mud for small crustaceans.
Ngutuparore – Wrybill (or wrybilled plover) – Anarhynchus frontalis
Photographed at Ashley River Estuary, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Endemic to New Zealand, and the only bird in the world with a bill that twists sideways instead of being either bent up or bent down. In the wrybill’s case, the bend is always to the bird’s right. It breeds in the braided shingle rivers of the South Island only, but disperses widely throughout the North Island over winter, returning to the South Island in late winter early spring (August).
Classified as nationally vulnerable, there are only some 4000 birds remaining. The main reasons for their decline seem to be introduced mammalian predators, habitat destruction and weed invasion. These birds breed on bare river shingles, usually shingle islands within the braided channels of our inland rivers. But this habitat is increasingly being invaded by introduced weeds such as willow, gorse and lupin, which decreases the bare areas of shingle needed for breeding and also provides cover for introduced predators.
Eggs are laid from late August to January, many pairs laying two clutches per season. The blue-grey of the adults, eggs and chicks blends well with the dominant greywacke shingle. Two eggs are laid. Both sexes incubate for about 30 days and fledging is about another 30+ days.
The wry bill allows the birds to easily reach under flat river stones for water insects. They will also sieve tidal mud for small crustaceans.