Endemic to New Zealand, the Bellbird (Anthornis melanura) name is thanks to Captain James Cook, who on his 1770 voyage wrote that the bird's melody "seemed to be like small bells most exquisitely tuned." Known in the Māori language as korimako or makomako, this honeyeater is a famous contributor to the country's dawn chorus. Like hummingbirds, they have a specialised, brush-tipped tongue that allows them to extract nectar from deep inside flowers. Males have a dull olive-green body with a glossy, deep-purple sheen on the head and dark wing feathers. Females have a browner tone over the body with a narrow, pale stripe running across the cheek beneath the eye. It is widespread across the North, South, Stewart, and Auckland Islands, as well as many offshore islands.
© BirdsImageStock