Provenance: Private Collection, Waikato

Purchased by current owner from International Art Centre c. 1980

Illustrated: p. 195 New Zealand Birds, An Artist's Field Studies, Raymond Ching and Grahame Turbott QSO, Reed Methuen Publishers Ltd 1986

The Stitchbird or Hihi (Notiomystis cincta) is a medium-sized forest species and is one of New Zealand's rarest birds. Recent DNA analysis has shown it to be the sole representative of another bird family found only in New Zealand whose closest relatives may be the iconic Wattlebirds including the Kokako, Saddleback and the extinct Huia. The shy, attractive Stitchbird is a honeyeater, regularly visiting flax, pohutukawa and puriri. The laying period is usually November resulting in three to five chicks. Both parents feed the chicks on nectar and small insects.

In 2006 sixty Stitchbirds were released in the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary near Wellington and in October of that year, for the first time in more than 120 years, chicks were hatched on mainland New Zealand. A dedicated conservation programme has been underway at Tiritiri Matangi for some years. However the species is classified as vulnerable, and found in only five locations, amongst which are Little Barrier Island and Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua as well as the Waitakere Ranges. Currently the world population is estimated at 1,000 adult birds.

Raymond Ching New Zealand Birds, An Artist's Field Studies Reed Methuen Publishers Ltd 1986