#2541 - Aptornis defossor - South Island Adzebill
One of three species in the now extinct family Aptornithidae - the other two were the North Island adzebill, (Aptornis otidiformis), and a possible species Aptornis proasciarostratus from the remarkable Saint Bathans fauna of the Miocene.
A large omnivorous bird of uncertain affiities, originally described as a small Moa, that lived in dryer more open country. Unlike the last few species I've covered, this one was already extinct before Europeans showed up - the MΔori name was "ngutu hahau", presumably when they weren't calling it "lunch".
The photo above is of a reconstruction on display at Te Papa, the national museum in Auckland. There are no records of the colour of the living birds.
Te Papa, Wellington, New Zealand
