Whitehead (bird)

The whitehead is a small species of passerine bird endemic to New Zealand. It is classified in the family Mohouidae. The male whitehead's upperparts, wings and tail are a pale brown in colour, while the head and underparts are white – in the case of the male an almost pure white in colour. Females and juveniles have similar colouration except that the nape and crown are shaded brown. The black beak and eyes contrast with the white head and the feet are bluish black in colouration.

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Distribution

Region

New Zealand (North Island and offshore islands)

Typical Environment

Found in native podocarp–broadleaf forests, coastal and lowland scrub, and regenerating secondary growth. It favors mid- to upper-canopy strata but regularly descends to lower branches and dense shrub layers while foraging. Populations thrive on predator-free offshore islands and fenced sanctuaries, and are patchier on the mainland where predators persist. It adapts well to restored habitats with diverse native understory.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1200 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size13–15 cm

Wing Span20–25 cm

Male Weight0.02 kg

Female Weight0.017 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The whitehead is a cooperative breeder, with family groups often helping to raise a single brood. It has a long coevolutionary history with the long-tailed cuckoo, which parasitizes its nests. Intensive predator control and translocations to predator-free sanctuaries have helped stabilize many populations.

Gallery

Whitehead, Mohoua albicilla[6]

Whitehead on Tiritiri Matangi Island

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Usually seen in noisy family groups that move together through the canopy. Exhibits cooperative breeding, with helpers assisting the breeding pair in feeding nestlings. Nests are cup-shaped and well concealed in dense foliage.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A bright, chattering series of high-pitched notes interspersed with trills. Groups often produce a chorus of contact calls and scolding chatters when disturbed.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Whitehead's broadbill

Whitehead's broadbill is a species of bird in the family Calyptomenidae. It is endemic to the mountain ranges of north-central Borneo, where it mainly inhabits montane forests and forest edges at elevations of 900–1,700 m (3,000–5,600 ft). It is 24–27 cm (9.4–10.6 in) long, with males weighing 142–171 g (5.0–6.0 oz) and females weighing 150–163 g (5.3–5.7 oz). Males are vivid green and have a black throat patch, black spots on the ear-coverts and back of the neck, and black markings and streaking all over the body. The tails and flight feathers are also blackish. Females are smaller and lack the black markings on the head and underparts. Juveniles look similar to adults but have fewer black markings.

Whitehead's spiderhunter

Whitehead's spiderhunter is a species of spiderhunter in the sunbird and spiderhunter family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to Borneo, where it is found in the mountain ranges in the north-central part of the island. It inhabits hill dipterocarp forest, primary and secondary montane forest, and forest edge at elevations of 930–3,000 m (3,050–9,840 ft). A large and distinctive spiderhunter, the species is mostly brown with profuse whitish streaking all over the body and bright yellow vents and uppertail coverts. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but males are larger, with a length of 16.5–18 cm (6.5–7.1 in) compared to a length of 15.5–16.5 cm (6.1–6.5 in) for females. The juvenile plumage is unknown.

Whitehead's trogon

Whitehead's trogon is a species of bird in the family Trogonidae. It is endemic to the island of Borneo, where it is an uncommon resident in primary mountain forest. One of Borneo's largest trogons at 29 to 33 cm long, it is sexually dimorphic. The male is crimson on the head, nape, and underparts, with a black throat and grey chest; the rest of his upperparts are cinnamon-coloured. The female is similarly patterned, but cinnamon-brown where the male is scarlet. The species was first described for science by Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1888, who named it for British explorer and collector John Whitehead. There are no subspecies.

Whooping crane

The whooping crane is an endangered crane species, native to North America, named for its "whooping" calls. Along with the sandhill crane, it is one of only two crane species native to North America, and it is also the tallest North American bird species, with an estimated 22–30+ year life expectancy in the wild. After being pushed to the brink of extinction by unregulated hunting and loss of habitat that left just 21 wild cranes by 1941, the whooping crane made a partial recovery through conservation efforts. The total number of cranes in the surviving migratory population, plus three reintroduced flocks and in-captivity, only slightly exceeds 830 birds as of 2025.This includes about 560 individuals in the remnant population that migrates between coastal Texas, USA, and the Northwest Territories, Canada, which is termed the "Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population" after the protected areas that anchor the population's wintering and breeding ranges, respectively. Additionally, there are about 140 individuals in two reintroduced populations breeding in Wisconsin and Louisiana, USA, and an additional 130 individuals in captivity.