Story: Small forest birds

Female North Island rifleman

Female North Island rifleman

Riflemen (tītiti pounamu) forage on large tree trunks and branches, gleaning insects and spiders from bark, lichens and moss. Never still, they flick their wings and turn from side to side as they work their way up the trunk. They fly in short hops between trees, seldom over open ground. Males are green, females streaky brown. This is the North Island subspecies.

Using this item

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10030997
Photograph by J. L. Kendrick

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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/12460/female-north-island-rifleman (accessed 29 March 2024)

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