New Zealand wren
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| Acanthisittidae | ||||||||||
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Acanthisitta Rifleman |
The New Zealand "wrens", family Acanthisittidae, are tiny passerines restricted to New Zealand.
They are understood to form a distinct lineage within the passerines, but authorities differ on their assignment to the oscines or suboscines (the two suborders that between them make up the passeriformes). DNA-DNA hybridisation studies suggest that they may, in fact, form a third suborder and have no living close relatives at all. They are called "wrens" due to their similar appearance and behavior, but are not related to true wrens at all.
Six or seven species are known, in four genera. At least three, more probably four or five of the species are extinct.
- The Titipounamu or Rifleman, Acanthisitta chloris.
- The Bush Wren, Xenicus longipes, almost certainly extinct.
- The Piwauwau or Rock Wren, Xenicus gilviventris (the Māori name should be preferred, as the Rock Wren is a true wren from California).
- The recently extinct Stephens Island Wren, Xenicus lyalli (sometimes placed in the separate genus Traversia).
- The extinct North Island Stout-legged Wren, Pachyplichas yaldwyni.
- The extinct South Island Stout-legged Wren, P. jagmi (may be the same as P. yaldwyni).
- The extinct Long-legged Wren, Dendroscansor decurvirostris.