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Story: Land birds – overview

Stout-legged wren

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Stout-legged wren

This stamp features the extinct stout-legged wren. Along with two other members of its family – Acanthisittidae – it was flightless, extremely unusual for passerines. And most flightless birds are much larger than these three – the biggest of which weighed 40 grams.

Using this item

New Zealand Post

Reference: 1996 Extinct Birds stamp issue

by Geoffrey Cox

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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How to cite this page

Kerry-Jayne Wilson, Land birds – overview – Flightless land birds, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/postage-stamp/9906/stout-legged-wren (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerry-Jayne Wilson, published 1 March 2009.