Notornis, 2001, Vol. 48: 217-223 0029-4470 O The Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Inc. 2001 A field technique for determining the sex of North Island kokako (Callaeas cinerea wilsonl) IAN FLUX Science and Research Division, Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 10-420, Wellington, New Zealand
[email protected] JOHN INNES Landcare Research Ltd, Private Bag 3127, Hamilton, New Zealand Abstract North Island kokako (Callaeas cinerea wilsoni) appear sexually monomorphic. Females are, on average, slightly smaller than males in most body measurements. Mean tarsus length was significantly smaller among females at all sites and can be used to predict sex of unknown birds with up to 86% accuracy. A simple discriminant function, using tarsus and wing chord measurements, was derived which increased sex resolution to over 90% at some sites. This is sufficient accuracy to provide a useful field technique for kokako research and conservation management. Best discri- minant functions for different sites are presented and their geographical limitations are discussed. Flux, I.; Innes, J. 2001. A field technique for determining the sex of North Island kokako (Callaeas cinerea wilsoni). Notornis 48(4): 217-223. Keywords kokako; Callaeas cinerea wilsoni; morphometrics; sex determination INTRODUCTION ogy, and breeding of kokako would be aided greatly The North Island kokako (Callaeas cinerea wilsoni) is by a simple sexing techmque. a member of an endemic family, the Callaeatidae or Standard measurements (Gurr 1947)were recorded New Zealand wattlebirds. The kokako is the only from kokako captured between 1990 and 1999. Sex of wattlebird remaining on the New Zealand mainland; 111 adults was determined concurrently by field ob- populations inhabit mainly small and disjunct areas servation at Mapara Wildlife Management Reserve, of lowland forest in the central and northern North King Country and at Rotoehu Forest, Bay of Plenty, Island (Innes & Flux 1999).The species is considered during 7 years of intensive field research and man- to be threatened (Collar et al.