Rifleman

The rifleman (Acanthisitta chloris) is a small bird that is only found in New Zealand, its preferred habitat being remnants of native forest such as mountainous beech woods.

The rifleman only grows to about three inches in length and it flits rapidly from branch to branch, which makes it difficult to spot. When at rest it will flick its wings rapidly.

The male bird has bright yellow-green upperparts, with a yellow bar and white spot on the wings. The rump and flanks are yellow. The underparts are white, tinged with buff.

The slightly uptilted bill is black.

The black tail is very short and has a buff tip. The legs are nearly black.

The female rifleman is similar to the male except that the upperparts are striped in light and dark brown.

The rifleman behaves similarly to the treecreeper in that it only rarely comes to the ground but spends most of its time searching tree trunks and branches for insects and spiders.

The call is a sharp high-pitched “zipp” which is repeated in rapid succession with several birds calling together.

Breeding takes places between August and January. A domed nest is built from plant debris and feathers. The nest is usually built in a tree hollow or crevice, usually between 10 and 20 feet above the ground. A clutch of four or five eggs is laid, with both partners incubating them and feeding the young birds. A second brood is common, with the young of the first brood sometimes feeding the second.

Many male birds are polygamous.

© John Welford