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Story: Small forest birds

Yellowhead

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Yellowheads (mōhua) live in the South Island and on a few offshore islands where they have been released. Their musical call was once heard in most forested regions of the South Island – especially mature beech forest. They nest in tree holes, which makes them vulnerable to predators. They are limited to a few mountain forest regions but in the early 2020s were classified as recovering.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10061001

by Michael Eckstaedt

Sound file from Birds of New Zealand. Compact disc. © Viking Sevenseas NZ, 1980 (PO Box 152, Paraparaumu). All rights reserved. Photograph courtesy of New Zealand Naturephoto (reference 05909)

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How to cite this page

Christina Troup, Small forest birds – Whiteheads, yellowheads and brown creepers, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/natural-sounds/12495/yellowhead (accessed 4 June 2026).

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