垂耳鸦科科

垂耳鸦亦常常被误称为垂蜜鸟（英文:Wattlebird）。实际上，垂耳鸦与垂蜜鸟差别巨大，垂蜜鸟属于吸蜜鸟科（学名：Meliphagidae）且分布于澳大利亚。而垂耳鸦科下的物种分布于新西兰。正因如此，垂耳鸦时常也被称为新西兰垂蜜鸟（英文:New Zealand Wattlebirds）。

种

垂耳鸦科现有3属5种。

• 垂耳鸦科 Callaeidae
• 垂耳鸦属 Callaeas
• 北岛垂耳鸦 C. wilsoni 近危(IUCN 3.1)

†?南岛垂耳鸦 C. cinereus 极危，可能绝灭(IUCN 3.1)(最后观察记录时间:2007年)

†镰嘴垂耳鸦属 Heteralocha

†镰嘴垂耳鸦 H. acutirostris 绝灭(IUCN 3.1)(最后观察记录时间:1907年12月28日)

• 鞍背鸦属 Philesturnus
• 北岛鞍背鸦 P. rufusater 近危(IUCN 3.1)
• 南岛鞍背鸦 P. carunculatus 近危(IUCN 3.1)

Callaeidae (sometimes Callaeatidae) is a family of passerine birds endemic to New Zealand. It contains three genera, with five species in the family. One species, the huia, became extinct early in the 20th century, while the South Island kokako is critically endangered and may be extinct.

Although sometimes known as wattled crows, they are not corvids and are only distantly related to crows – New Zealand wattlebirds is the informal name for this family used by the scientific community.

Biology and evolution

They are ground-dwelling songbirds, 26–38 cm in length. They inhabit dense forests, where they feed on insects. They have strong legs and featherless wattles behind the bill. Their wings are rounded and unusually weak, giving them very limited powers of flight. They are monogamous and maintain permanent territories.

These birds seem to be remnants of an early expansion of passerines to New Zealand. Their only close relative is the stitchbird.

The phylogenetic relationships between the species shown below is based on a study published in 2022. The South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus) was not sampled.

Species

• Genus Callaeas
• North Island kokako, Callaeas wilsoni
• South Island kokako, Callaeas cinereus (possibly extinct)
• Genus Philesturnus
• North Island saddleback, Philesturnus rufusater
• South Island saddleback, Philesturnus carunculatus
• Genus Heteralocha
• Huia, Heteralocha acutirostris (extinct)