Chatham Islands Fernbird

Poodytes rufescens

The Chatham Islands fernbird is an extinct bird species that was endemic to the Chatham Islands. It was historically known only from Mangere Island, but fossils have been found on Pitt Island and Chatham Island as well. Its closest living relative is the New Zealand fernbird or matata. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the New Zealand fernbird, but is now widely recognized as its own species. Both fernbirds were formerly placed in their own genus Bowdleria; they were later moved to Megalurus and most recently Poodytes.

Scientific name

Poodytes rufescens

Family

Grassbirds and Allies

IUCN status

EX