The rifleman belongs to the Acanthisittidae family of New Zealand ‘wrens’, along with just one other species, the New Zealand rock wren (Xenicus gilviventris), a plucky little bird that is almost ...

Rifleman, NZ's smallest bird may be 'missing link' in birdsong evolution: study. By Fleur Connick. ABC Science. Topic: Birds. Fri 28 Jun Friday 28 June Fri 28 Jun 2024 at 8:00pm.

Aotearoa New Zealand's smallest bird may be a "missing link" in the evolution of vocal mimicry in songbirds. Scientists used to think birds were divided into two groups: those that learn or copied ...

A tiny rifleman in the forest. Photo / Barry Pethybridge. New Zealand's tiniest native birds could be the missing piece of a puzzle facing scientists around the world.