Topic:

Bird skin collection

Te Papa holds a treasure-trove of New Zealand bird specimens (c.11,000 skins of 289 species), including long extinct species such as huia and piopio, and recent vagrants to New Zealand including Bulwer's petrel and black-faced monarch. An additional 6,000 skins sourced from overseas provides a resource for comparisons with New Zealand species. [Totals as of 27 September 2010.]

Is part of topic Bird collection

Type specimens of living and recently extinct birds

Te Papa holds the most significant type specimens for 15 currently recognised bird species and subspecies. This includes the only known specimens of the Vanua Levu long-legged warbler and Campbell Island snipe. more>

Oldest bird skin specimens

There are only seven bird skins in the collection that were collected before 1850. The oldest New Zealand bird skin in the collection is a mounted North Island brown kiwi collected in 1850. more>