Chatham Island Warbler

Chatham Island warbler is a small endemic songbird with a pale face and soft grey-brown upperparts. It has a conspicuous white forehead, eyebrow and underparts, unlike the darker-faced mainland riroriro.

It occurs only in the Chatham Islands, including main Chatham, Pitt, Rangatira and Mangere islands where suitable scrub or forest remains. Birds glean insects from foliage and bark and build enclosed hanging nests in dense vegetation.

Chatham Island warbler is At Risk — Naturally Uncommon (NZ Threat Classification). Habitat loss and introduced predators affect the restricted island population. Forest reserves on main Chatham Island and predator-free Rangatira offer the best opportunities where access is permitted.