still in the 19. Century was represented in New Zealand all three types of the rag-birds. However, the narrow spread-area turned these birds into the undoing; its number decreased the changes of the habitat from deforestation of the forests considerably and led to the extermination of the type in a case (Huia or Lappenhopf, Heteralocha acutirostris). The continuance of the rag-crow or the "Kokao" as well as (Callaeas cinerea) the New Zealand-rag-star or the saddle-crow (Creadion carunculatus) is strongly endangered.
For a long time, the Maoris have hunted particularly the Huia before the arrival of the European immigrants. they would use the black tail-feathers with its white tops for the headdress of the tribal-chieftains. Hereby, the continuance was reduced however only unimportantly.
Shape and way of life The rather weak wings are all types together, the runs and feet powerfully are trained for it. So they admittedly flutter in the branches in the deeper jungle-layers around, however, also bigger distances can overcome in the trees and at the ground with long jumps. Here, they look for its insect-food, that is supplemented through fruits and berries above all with the rag-crow.
The rag-birds owe its name to the big and fleshy rags at the mouth-corners. These are orange (in the south) with the rag-crow according to subtype or shining blue (in the north) colored, with the other both types yellow until orange.
New Zealand-rag-star or saddle-backs Like the Huia, also the rag-star (Creadion carunculatus, 25-30 cm of length) has a black one, metallic green iridescent plumage. The sexes are to be externally hardly distinguished. The occurrence of the very rarely become bird is limited on some small islands with still original forest-continuance.
Rag-crow or Kokao Still in the previous century very frequently, the blue-gray rag-crow (Callaeas cinerea, 40 cm of length) only occurs as bird of the highland-forests at few places of the main-island. its chant should be superior to that of all the other Singvögel New Guinea in beauty.
Reproduction This quite loosely from branches put together nest, to find quite highly (until 10 m of height) in the trees, is. It is interior from-dressed with moss and bark. The nest contains 2-3 eggs. If the squabs hatched, they still remain in the nest approximately four weeks.
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