South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus)

The South Island saddleback is a forest bird which is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Both the North Island saddleback and this species were formerly considered conspecific.

Today, thanks to careful management by DOC, the South Island saddleback population is about 700, spread over eleven small islands, from the original 36 birds transferred from Big South Cape Island.