The rifleman is New Zealand's smallest endemic bird, with fully grown adults reaching around 7 to 9 cm (2.8–3.5 in) in length.
Male birds typically weigh around 6 g (0.21 oz), females 7 g (0.25 oz).
The bill of the female is also longer, as is its hind claw.
The difference in between the sexes may be ecological in its origin, reflecting different foraging niches the two sexes have during times when they have high energy demands (feeding chicks).
The male rifleman is bright green above, with a yellow-green rump.
The wings are black, green and white with a yellow band across the flight feathers.
The tail is black with a whitish tip.
The throat, breast and belly are white, sometimes with a yellow wash, and the flanks are yellowish.
The female is of a more somber brownish tone and her head and back are flecked with ochre.
Both birds have white eyebrow stripes.
They have short, rounded wings, a very short tail and a long thin awl-like bill which is brownish and slightly upturned for insertion into cracks.
The rifleman flies quickly with a wing beat producing a characteristic humming sound like a hummingbird.
The rifleman is New Zealand's smallest endemic bird, with fully grown adults reaching around 7 to 9 cm (2.8–3.5 in) in length. Male birds typically weigh around 6 g (0.21 oz), females 7 g (0.25 oz). The bill of the female is also longer, as is its hind claw. The difference in between the sexes may be ecological in its origin, reflecting different foraging niches the two sexes have during times when they have high energy demands (feeding chicks). The male rifleman is bright green above, with a yellow-green rump. The wings are black, green and white with a yellow band across the flight feathers. The tail is black with a whitish tip. The throat, breast and belly are white, sometimes with a yellow wash, and the flanks are yellowish. The female is of a more somber brownish tone and her head and back are flecked with ochre. Both birds have white eyebrow stripes. They have short, rounded wings, a very short tail and a long thin awl-like bill which is brownish and slightly upturned for insertion into cracks. The rifleman flies quickly with a wing beat producing a characteristic humming sound like a hummingbird.
Rifleman (bird)