- Conservation status
- In some trouble
Filling beech and podocarp forest with sounds, whiteheads are highly social and always chattering with their friends. Although they are based in the canopy, whiteheads are reluctant fliers. However, thanks to being so small and nimble, these acrobats are known to hang upside down when foraging.
Campaign Manager
Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust
The pōpokatea call the Kaimai Mamaku home and we want it to remain that way for years to come! Our backyard is this small song-bird’s most northern natural habitat, and it could be an important indicator of forest defragmentation if the population moves progressively south. We’re already working to protect these reluctant fliers from predators with more than 8,000 traps set in the Kaimai Mamaku by our project groups alone. Living in tight-knit groups, the native whitehead can even be found foraging with other manu. We resonate with this ethos, by working collectively with all stakeholders, iwi and community groups to restore the mauri of their habitat. If you’re a local, if you’ve ever hiked, hunted or swum in our ngāhere, if you’ve ever sung (or sworn) while driving over the pot-hilled ranges - you need to vote for the pōpokatea as Bird of the Century. #popokatea2023
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