New Zealand Bellbird
Anthornis melanura
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyMeliphagidae (Honeyeaters)
- GenusAnthornis (New Zealand Bellbirds)
- SpeciesAnthornis melanura (New Zealand Bellbird)
The New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura), also known by its Māori language names korimako, makomako and kōmako, is a medium-sized species of honeyeater endemic to New Zealand. It has been the only living member of the genus Anthornis since the Chatham Islands bellbird went extinct in the early 20th century. The bellbird's closest living relative is the only other New Zealand honeyeater, the tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae). The bellbird forms a significant component of the famed New Zealand dawn chorus of birdsong, which was much noted by early European settlers. Exceptional singing abilities were already observed by Captain James Cook, who described its song as "like small bells most exquisitely tuned". Bellbirds measure about 17–20 cm (6.7–7.9 in) in length, with females weighing approximately 25 g (0.88 oz) and males 33 g (1.2 oz). Wikipedia →
50–60% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Bellbird sighting in Fiordland National Park, based on 1,012 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Fiordland National Park
Tūī
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
New Zealand Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
Grey Warbler
Gerygone igata
Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
Miromiro
Petroica macrocephala
Silvereye
Zosterops lateralis
South Island Robin
Petroica australis
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 6 | Tongariro National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a New Zealand Bellbird in Fiordland National Park?
About 59% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Bellbird sighting in Fiordland National Park, based on 1,012 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see New Zealand Bellbird in Fiordland National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for New Zealand Bellbird in Fiordland National Park in our monthly data.