South Island kōkako - the grey ghost

The South Island kōkako was (or is!) similar to the living North Island kōkako, differing mainly in having orange facial wattles (blue in the North Island kōkako). Both belong to the endemic family Callaeidae, along with the North Island and South Island saddlebacks (tīeke), and the extinct huia.

South Island kōkako occurred in forests throughout the South Island, including Stewart Island and Stephens Island. Formerly widespread and common, they declined rapidly following the introduction of ship rats, stoats and other mammalian predators, and were very rare by the early 1900s. The last generally accepted sighting was in Mount Aspiring National Park in 1967, but unconfirmed sightings continue to be reported as recently as 2007.

South Island kōkako are represented in the Te Papa collection by 23 skins and mounted birds, one skull, one egg and one nest.