Photo: digitatrails/wikipedia
The RIFLEMAN
(Acanthisitta chloris)
What a strange name for such a cute little bird. The Rifleman, also known as Titipounamu, is the very smallest of all New Zealand's endemic birds. There is nothing exotic or mysterious about its Rifleman name. According to 'New Zealand Birds', the bird's English name, rifleman, stems from a resemblance of the bird's plumage to the uniform of an early colonial regiment. However a spokesperson for NZBirds, Stella Anderson says, 'because it follows a spiralling route when going over the bark for food, this little wren obtained its English name - 'to rifle' means spiral grooves as, for example, in a gun barrel." Somewhat contrived, methinks.
Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder
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