Stitchbird

The Stitchbird, or hihi (Notiomystis cincta), is a distinctive bird native to New Zealand's North Island, known for its honeyeater-like appearance and various Māori names such as tihi and kotihe. Although once thought to be a honeyeater, recent genetic studies have placed it in its own unique family, Notiomystidae. It faced extinction on the mainland but survived on Little Barrier Island and has since been reintroduced to several other islands and mainland sites. The stitchbird, notable for its striking plumage with males boasting a dark cap and yellow chest band, feeds primarily on nectar but also eats fruit and insects. Uniquely, stitchbirds mate face-to-face and exhibit high levels of extra-pair paternity. Conservation efforts have been crucial in establishing new populations, although these have faced challenges like genetic bottlenecks and inbreeding. While the Stitchbird is classified as Vulnerable due to its limited range, reintroduction programs have seen successes, such as the birth of chicks on the mainland for the first time in over a century.