The Kokako (Callaeas cinerea) is a forest bird which is endemic to New Zealand. It is slate-grey with a black mask and wattles. It is one of three New Zealand wattlebirds, the other two being the endangered Saddleback and the extinct Huia. Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Subregnum Bilateria  Acoelomorpha  Orthonectida  Rhombozoa  Myxozoa  Superphylum Deuterostomia     Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascideiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Many - see section below. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... Genera  Callaeas  Philesturnus  Heteralocha The small bird family Callaeidae is restricted to New Zealand. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is a standard convention used for naming species. ... Johann Friedrich Gmelin (August 8, 1748 - November 1, 1804) was a German naturalist and botanist. ... Orders Many - see section below. ... This article is about the ecological meaning of endemic. See also endemic (epidemiology). ... Wattle has several meanings: In engineering terms, originally wattle referred collectively to the flexible rods, branches or twigs from various plants woven together to make fences, walls and roofs (see wattle-and-daub). ... The American bison numbered as few as 750 in 1890 due to extreme overhunting. ... In general, a saddleback is the shape of a saddle. ... Binomial name Heteralocha acutirostris (Gould, 1837) The Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) was a bird that was native to New Zealand. ...

The North Island Kokako, with blue wattles, is endangered, with less than 400 pairs in existence (September 2004). It survives in low numbers in several mainland native forests with the help of government-funded pest control programmes. Populations are being established through releases on predator-free offshore islands. As a result, conservationists are hopeful of the species' long-term survival. As at 2005, the Kokako has been sighted in Pureora Forest, Whirinaki Forest Park and the Te Urewera National Park. Kokako can be easily seen on Tiritiri Matangi Island. Trinomial name Callaeas cinerea wilsoni (Bonaparte, 1851) The North Island Kokako (Callaeas cinerea wilsoni) is an endemic bird found in the North Island of New Zealand. ... Te Urewera National Park consists of a total land area of 2,127 km² and is situated in the East Coast region of the North Island of New Zealand. ... Tiritiri Matangi, lighthouse and ranger station. ...

The South Island Kokako, with orange wattles, is thought to be functionally extinct (i.e. the species can no longer reproduce because only a few older males may survive). A confirmed sighting has not occurred in several decades, though unconfirmed sightings are very occasionally reported.

See also

• List of New Zealand birds

As a land without terrestrial mammals of any kind, New Zealand was, until the arrival of the first humans, inhabited by an extraordinarily diverse range of specialised birds. ...

External links

• New Zealand Birds website
• Kokako on Tiri