The Chatham tomtit (Petroica macrocephala chathamensis) is a subspecies of tomtit found on some of the smaller islands of New Zealand. It is most similar in plumage to the South Island tomtit, the nominate subspecies.[2] The New Zealand government is implementing a plan to help this species and other bird species recover.[3] The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[4]
Distribution
The Chatham tomtit has been extinct on Chatham Island since the 1970s. This subspecies now has a population of about 1,000 birds and is currently restricted to the rat-free islands of Rangatira, Mangere and Pitt.[5]
References
- ^ Terranature.org
- ^ Govt.nz
- ^ Govt.nz
- ^ "Petroica macrocephala chathamensis; holotype". Collections Online. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ chathams.co.nz Archived May 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine