Apteryx mantelli

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	STRUTHIONIFORMES	APTERYGIDAE

Scientific Name:

Apteryx mantelli

Species Authority:

Bartlett, 1851

Common Name/s:

English

–

Northern Brown Kiwi, North Island Brown Kiwi

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A2bce+3bce+4bce ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Robertson, H., Weeber, B.

Justification:
Mainland populations of this species may be decreasing by as much as 86% in three generations (36 years), based on annual declines, predation and loss of habitat. However, owing to the stability of island populations, and intensive predator control in select mainland populations, the overall decline is likely to be less than 80%, thus warranting Endangered status.

History:

2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Apteryx mantelli was once widespread throughout the North and northern South Islands of New Zealand. Remaining populations are isolated and fragmented. Birds are locally common in Northland, and mostly sparsely distributed in the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne to the northern Ruahine Range, and from Tongariro to Taranaki. Stable populations are present on Little Barrier (c. 1,000 birds), Kawau and Pounui Islands^2,8. Hybrids are present on Kapiti Island⁸. In 1996, the total population was estimated at 35,000 (c.±25%) birds⁷. Numbers have probably declined by at least 90% since 1900, and are declining at 5.8% per annum - halving each decade - in studied sites⁵.
Countries:	Native: New Zealand
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It favours dense, subtropical and temperate forests, but is also found in shrublands, scrub, regenerating forest, exotic pine plantations and pasture⁴. It feeds primarily on invertebrates². It normally lays two eggs, two to three times a year. Chicks hatch fully-feathered, and first leave the nest unaccompanied after about a week. It is long-lived, with generation time taken to be 10-15 years⁸.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It favours dense, subtropical and temperate forests, but is also found in shrublands, scrub, regenerating forest, exotic pine plantations and pasture⁴. It feeds primarily on invertebrates². It normally lays two eggs, two to three times a year. Chicks hatch fully-feathered, and first leave the nest unaccompanied after about a week. It is long-lived, with generation time taken to be 10-15 years⁸.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	At least 94% of chicks die before reaching breeding age. About half are killed by introduced predators, in particular, stoat Mustela erminea and cats⁵. In one population, a single dog killed c.500 birds in six weeks⁹. The clearance of habitat fragments continues to threaten small populations^3,6.

Major Threat(s):

At least 94% of chicks die before reaching breeding age. About half are killed by introduced predators, in particular, stoat Mustela erminea and cats⁵. In one population, a single dog killed c.500 birds in six weeks⁹. The clearance of habitat fragments continues to threaten small populations^3,6.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Monitoring is intensive and nationally coordinated, and uses call-counts, specially-trained dogs searching for banded birds, and radio-tracking. Key populations are managed by controlling predators, or by removing and incubating eggs and returning subadults once large enough to fend off predators. Leg-hold predator traps are raised above the ground to prevent accidental trapping⁸. Many national and overseas captive populations are held². Conservation Actions Proposed Clarify taxonomy of Okarito population. Evaluate islands for possible translocation of Okarito birds. Intensively manage Okarito population, and at least one population of each regional taxon. Consider establishing a further population of Okarito birds in North Okarito Forest¹⁰. Promote legislative and policy changes to protect populations⁷. Educate and inform the public and encourage community involvement in Kiwi conservation⁷.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Monitoring is intensive and nationally coordinated, and uses call-counts, specially-trained dogs searching for banded birds, and radio-tracking. Key populations are managed by controlling predators, or by removing and incubating eggs and returning subadults once large enough to fend off predators. Leg-hold predator traps are raised above the ground to prevent accidental trapping⁸. Many national and overseas captive populations are held².

Conservation Actions Proposed
Clarify taxonomy of Okarito population. Evaluate islands for possible translocation of Okarito birds. Intensively manage Okarito population, and at least one population of each regional taxon. Consider establishing a further population of Okarito birds in North Okarito Forest¹⁰. Promote legislative and policy changes to protect populations⁷. Educate and inform the public and encourage community involvement in Kiwi conservation⁷.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Apteryx mantelli. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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