Chatham bellbird facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chatham bellbird
Conservation status
Extinct  (1906) (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Meliphagidae
Genus:	Anthornis
Species:	†A. melanocephala
Binomial name
†Anthornis melanocephala G.R. Gray, 1843
Chatham Islands (top right) in relation to other New Zealand Outlying Islands
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The Chatham bellbird (Anthornis melanocephala) was a type of bird that is now extinct. This means there are no more Chatham bellbirds left in the world. It belonged to the Meliphagidae family, which includes birds that often eat nectar. This special bird lived only on the Chatham Islands, a group of islands far from New Zealand.

Nest

A Chatham Island bellbird (Anthornis melanocephala) specimen from the Auckland Museum collection.

What the Chatham Bellbird Looked Like

The Chatham bellbird looked a lot like the New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura). However, the Chatham bellbird was much bigger. Its whole head and neck had a shiny, purplish or steel-blue color. This made it look quite striking.

Why the Chatham Bellbird Disappeared

The last time anyone saw a Chatham bellbird was in 1906. It was seen on a small place called Little Mangere Island. Scientists believe a sudden sickness or disease might have caused their numbers to drop very quickly. This happened even before other problems started.

After the disease, other things made it hard for the bellbirds to survive. These included new animals like rats and cats that were brought to the islands. These animals hunted the birds and their eggs. People who collected bird specimens also contributed to their decline. Sadly, the Chatham bellbird could not recover from these challenges and became extinct.

See also

In Spanish: Pájaro campana de Chatham para niños