Mōhua (yellowhead)
Small, insectivorous forest birds, mōhua (Mohoua ochrocephala) are members of the genus that includes the whitehead and brown creeper. They nest in holes, usually high in beech trees, and are a host of the long-tailed cuckoo.
Mōhua are found only in the South Island forests. In the 1800s, they were one of the most abundant and conspicuous forest birds, inhabiting all forest types across the South Island and Stewart Island. Deforestation and the introduction of mammalian predators caused the population to decline by 90 per cent since European settlement. The mōhua is currently classified as nationally endangered.
The management of the species is guided by a recovery plan that includes controlling rats and stoats following beech masts (these are the infrequent fruiting events of native beech trees). Mōhua have been introduced to several predator-free inlands, where their numbers have increased rapidly.
Current situation
Mōhua are found only in South Island forests. Their distribution has become very fragmented and the species is now confined to beech forest.
They are present in 5 per cent of their estimated natural range. Since the 1970s, their range has contracted by almost 70 per cent, and in areas where there is no predator control, mōhua numbers are continuing to decline.
Change in distribution of the mōhua
Data source: Department of Conservation.
The map above shows the distribution of the mōhua (yellowhead) in New Zealand, including its estimated pre-human, 1970s and current (2005) distributions. It shows that the range of the mōhua has contracted, with it now occupying about 5 per cent of its original range.
This information has come from the latest national state of the environment report Environment New Zealand 2007.
Move to the next indicator species, the wrybill.
Last updated: December 2007
