South Island saddleback

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The South Island saddleback, or tīeke, is a forest bird found only on the South Island of New Zealand. It belongs to the wattlebird family and was once thought to be the same species as the North Island saddleback.

Status and numbers
- IUCN: Least Concern
- New Zealand DOC: At Risk—Declining
- Scientific name: Philesturnus carunculatus
- Current wild population: about 2,000 birds

Where it lives and what happened
- Historically, saddlebacks were common across the South Island and nearby islands.
- By the late 1800s, their numbers declined due to predators brought by humans.
- By 1905, they were mainly on the South Cape Islands near Stewart Island.
- In 1962, ship rats reached Big South Cape Island, causing serious local losses.
- In 1964, 36 birds were moved to pest-free islands (Big South Cape Island, Big Island, and Kaimohu Island) to protect them.
- With predator control and more translocations, the population has recovered to around 2,000.

Threats and protection
- Diseases: Avian malaria and avian pox have caused outbreaks (2002 and 2007), with high mortality because the birds have little resistance to malaria.
- Conservation actions: A recovery plan from 1994 aims to keep wild populations healthy, implement quarantine procedures, and remove predators from suitable islands for translocation.

Cultural note
- In Māori mythology, the orange mark on the bird’s back comes from a story about the demi-god Māui, making the tīeke an important bird in Māori culture.