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Story: Small forest birds

Male stitchbird

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Male stitchbird

Male stitchbirds (hihi) have black, gold and pale brown feathers with white sidebars and ear tufts. They often perch with their tail cocked, as seen here close to the nest. Stitchbirds nest in tree holes, so they need to live in mature forest where these are common.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10028870

by Dick Veitch

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How to cite this page

Christina Troup, Small forest birds – Saddlebacks and stitchbirds, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/12465/male-stitchbird (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Christina Troup, published 1 March 2009, updated 1 August 2023.