Chatham Islands Raven
Encyclopedia
The Chatham Islands Raven was a large songbird
native to the Chatham Islands
(New Zealand
). Another closely related raven occurred on the North Island
and South Island
of New Zealand, namely the New Zealand Raven
, C. antipodum. This was formerly included in C. moriorum, but is considered a distinct species
today.
A reconstruction of the species is in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
, specimen MNZ S.036749.
. They had long, broad bills that were not as arched as those of some of the Hawaiian Crow
s (C. hawaiiensis). Presumably, they were black all over like all their close relatives. There do not seem to be recorded oral traditions of this species – most of the Moriori
people, after whom this species was named, were eventually killed or enslaved by Māori explorers, and little of their natural history
knowledge has been preserved. Thus, it cannot be completely ruled out that like some congener
s they had partially white or grey plumage (see also Pied Raven
).
Remains of Chatham Islands Ravens are most common in coastal sites on the Chatham Islands. On the coast, it may have frequented the seal and penguin
colonies or fed in the intertidal zone
, as does the Tasmanian Forest Raven
(C. tasmanicus). It may also have depended on fruit, like the New Caledonian Crow
(C. moneduloides), but it is difficult to understand why a fruit eater would have been most common in coastal forest and shrubland when fruit was distributed throughout the forest.
Songbird
A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds . Another name that is sometimes seen as scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin oscen, "a songbird"...
native to the Chatham Islands
Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands are an archipelago and New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean consisting of about ten islands within a radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island. Their name in the indigenous language, Moriori, means Misty Sun...
(New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
). Another closely related raven occurred on the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
and South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand, namely the New Zealand Raven
New Zealand Raven
The New Zealand Raven was native to the North Island and South Island of New Zealand but is now extinct. There were two subspecies: the North Island Raven and the South Island Raven...
, C. antipodum. This was formerly included in C. moriorum, but is considered a distinct species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
today.
A reconstruction of the species is in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
, specimen MNZ S.036749.
Description and ecology
The Chatham Islands Raven was significantly larger than the New Zealand Raven, and probably the world's fourth- or fifth-largest passerinePasserine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
. They had long, broad bills that were not as arched as those of some of the Hawaiian Crow
Hawaiian Crow
The Hawaiian Crow or Alalā is a species of bird in the crow family, Corvidae. It is about the size of the Carrion Crow at in length, but with more rounded wings and a much thicker bill. It has soft, brownish-black plumage and long, bristly throat feathers; the feet, legs and bill are black...
s (C. hawaiiensis). Presumably, they were black all over like all their close relatives. There do not seem to be recorded oral traditions of this species – most of the Moriori
Moriori
Moriori are the indigenous people of the Chatham Islands , east of the New Zealand archipelago in the Pacific Ocean...
people, after whom this species was named, were eventually killed or enslaved by Māori explorers, and little of their natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
knowledge has been preserved. Thus, it cannot be completely ruled out that like some congener
Congener
Congener has several different meanings depending on the field in which it is used. Colloquially, it is used to mean a person or thing like another, in character or action.-Biology:In biology, congeners are organisms within the same genus...
s they had partially white or grey plumage (see also Pied Raven
Pied Raven
The Pied Raven was a colour morph of the North Atlantic subspecies of the Common Raven which was only found on the Faroe Islands and has disappeared since the mid twentieth century. It had large areas of white feathering, most frequently on the head, the wings and the belly, and its beak was light...
).
Remains of Chatham Islands Ravens are most common in coastal sites on the Chatham Islands. On the coast, it may have frequented the seal and penguin
Penguin
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
colonies or fed in the intertidal zone
Intertidal zone
The intertidal zone is the area that is above water at low tide and under water at high tide . This area can include many different types of habitats, with many types of animals like starfish, sea urchins, and some species of coral...
, as does the Tasmanian Forest Raven
Forest Raven
The Forest Raven is a large species of the crow genus native to south-eastern Australia and Tasmania.-Description:The Forest Raven is 50–52 cm in length with glossy black plumage and a white iris. It has a proportionately larger bill and shorter tail than the other mainland corvid species and...
(C. tasmanicus). It may also have depended on fruit, like the New Caledonian Crow
New Caledonian Crow
The New Caledonian Crow is a tool-using species of crow endemic to New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands. These crows are some of the only non-primate animals known to invent new tools by modifying existing ones, and then passing these innovations on to other individuals in the cultural group...
(C. moneduloides), but it is difficult to understand why a fruit eater would have been most common in coastal forest and shrubland when fruit was distributed throughout the forest.
External links
- The Extinction Website
- Chatham Islands Raven. Corvus moriorum. by Paul Martinson. Artwork produced for the book Extinct Birds of New Zealand, by Alan Tennyson, Te Papa Press, Wellington, 2006