Story: Small forest birds

Rock wren with wētā

Rock wren with wētā

The rock wren lives in open country above the treeline. Along with the rifleman, it is in a separate suborder from all other passerines (perching birds). Five other native wren species have become extinct since people (and rats) settled in New Zealand. One of these, the bush wren, survived until the 1970s.

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Department of Conservation
Reference: 10036518
Photograph by Dick Veitch

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How to cite this page:

Christina Troup, 'Small forest birds - Riflemen', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/12459/rock-wren-with-weta (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Christina Troup, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015, updated 1 Aug 2023