Green panties
| Green panties | ||||||||||||
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Green panties, female on the left, male on the right |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Acanthisitta | ||||||||||||
| Lafresnaye , 1842 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Acanthisitta chloris | ||||||||||||
| ( Sparrman , 1787) |
The green panties ( Acanthisitta chloris ), also known as the grenadier , is a species of bird from the family of the stubby tail (Acanthisittidae) endemic to New Zealand and the only member of the genus Acanthisitta . The alternative name is derived from the similarity of their plumage with the uniform of the grenadiers .
description
Green panties are physically similar to wrens , but they are not related to them. Males are bright green on the back; the females are more inconspicuous, mostly brown, their plumage is interspersed with ocher-colored spots on the head and back. The underside is white in both sexes, and there is also a white stripe above the eye. Their long, thin beak is slightly curved upwards, the wings are short and rounded, and the tail is very short. Green panties are the smallest native birds in New Zealand, they grow to be around 8 cm long. Females are a little heavier at 7 g than males at 6 g.
Way of life
The habitat of these birds are loosely tree-lined forests. They feed mainly on insects and their larvae, which they look for on the ground and on tree trunks. When foraging for food, they start at the foot of a tree and spiral upwards, their thin beak helping them to search through narrow crevices. When they reach the top, they fly to a neighboring tree and continue their search.
Reproduction
They build their nests in crevices, tree hollows or even in small burrows. Twice a year the female lays four to five eggs, which it incubates for 13 to 15 days. The nest is generally dome-shaped and is interwoven with leaves, grasses and feathers. The entrance is often so narrow that the bird has to squeeze inward.
threat
The green panties are the only still common species of Maori panties , two of the remaining three species are already extinct. The IUCN lists it as not at risk ( least concern ).
Web links
- Acanthisitta chloris inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015.4. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
- Further information and pictures
- Another photo
- Videos, photos and sound recordings of Acanthisitta chloris in the Internet Bird Collection
