New Zealand’s smallest bird has made an appearance in Wellington for the first time in a century.
The pair of tītipounamu, or rifleman, were spotted on Wellington’s Te Ahūmairangi Hill near the suburb of Wadestown.
"A pair being spotted kilometres away from the sanctuary at Te Ahūmairangi Hill this week is extraordinary. It is a testament to the care that Wellingtonians are taking of these precious places,” Zealandia's Kari Beaven said.
While they’re common in parts of Aotearoa, the last time they were seen flying around Wellington was over 100 years ago.
The tiny birds weigh just six grams and their call is so high pitched that it’s often inaudible to the human ear.
Tītipounamu were introduced to Wellington's ecosanctuary Zealandia from Wainuiomata Mainland Island in 2019.
Bands on the legs of one of the birds suggest they had fledged at Zealandia in early 2021.
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