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New Zealand| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | > 100,000 |
| CITES Status: | Not Listed |
| IUCN Status: | Not Listed |
| U.S. ESA Status: | Not Listed |
| Overall Length: | 7–9 cm |
| Tail Length: | |
| Shoulder Height: | |
| Weight: | 6–7 grams |
| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
| Litter Size: | 4–5 eggs |
| Gestation Period: | |
Identification:
It is exceptionally small, weighing only 6–7 grams and measuring 7–9 cm.
- Males: Bright green upperparts, a yellow-green rump, and white underparts with a yellow wash on the flanks.
- Females: Duller and brown-striped/streaked above with ochre flecks.
- Key Features: Both sexes have a short, stumpy tail (often appearing tailless) and a slender, slightly upturned black bill.
Habitat:
Primarily mature native forests (beech, podocarp, kauri, and tawa) and subalpine scrub. They have also adapted to some exotic pine plantations.
Biomes: Temperate forest and shrubland biomes.
Biomes: Temperate forest and shrubland biomes.
Range:
Endemic to New Zealand, found on both main islands, Stewart Island, and several predator-free offshore islands such as Little Barrier, Tiritiri Matangi, and Ulva Island.
Life Cycle:
- Nesting: Small, dome-shaped nests are built in tree crevices, rock fissures, or even holes in the ground.
- Breeding: They typically lay 4–5 eggs per clutch and often raise two broods per year. Both parents, and sometimes "helpers" from previous broods, assist in feeding the chicks.
Food & Hunting:
Primarily insectivorous, eating insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. They forage by spiraling up tree trunks, gleaning prey from bark crevices. Males often forage on leaves, while females focus more on the bark.
Behaviour:
Active and lively birds that move constantly. They are poor flyers, typically flying only short distances within the forest canopy and rarely crossing large open spaces. They communicate with very high-frequency "zip" or "pip" calls, often inaudible to humans.
Conservation:
Classified as Least Concern globally. In New Zealand, the South Island subspecies is "Not Threatened," while the North Island subspecies (A. c. granti) is considered "At Risk/Declining". Conservation involves pest control and successful translocations to predator-free islands.
Other Details:
Its Māori name, tītipounamu, translates to "little greenstone," referencing the male's bright green plumage. It is featured on the reverse side of the New Zealand $20 note.