Piopio (bird)

Extinct genus of birds

Piopio

Temporal range: Holocene

North Island piopio in front, South Island piopio at rear
Scientific classification
Domain:  | Eukaryota
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Chordata
Class:  | Aves
Order:  | Passeriformes
Family:  | Oriolidae
Genus:  | †Turnagra
Lesson, 1837
Species

See text

Synonyms

* Keropia Gray, 1840
* Otagon Bonaparte, 1850

The piopio or turnagras are an extinct genus of passerine birds in the family Oriolidae, that were endemic to New Zealand. Sometimes described as New Zealand thrushes, the piopio had only a coincidental, passing resemblance to the thrush family.

## Taxonomy and systematics[edit]

Piopio were a long-standing taxonomic mystery. Until 2011, the IOC regarded their monotypic family Turnagridae as incertae sedis (of uncertain placement). The genus Turnagra was then placed in the family Oriolidae after it was determined that the piopio were closely related to the figbirds.[1] They have been said to have more in common with the bowerbird family of Australia, but they differ in terms of nest construction, egg marking, and voice. A relationship has also been suggested with the whistlers (Pachycephalidae). The piopio were formerly considered to be a single species until split into separate North and South Island species in 2012.[2]

The specific names of both species were based on mistakes; Turnagra capensis was so named because Anders Sparrman mixed up his specimens and thought the bird had been collected in South Africa (capensis referring to the Cape of Good Hope). The North Island's Turnagra tanagra was so named because it was thought to be related to the tanagers of the Americas.[3] The vernacular name is derived from the Māori name, piopio-kata.

### Extinct species[edit]

The genus Turnagra contains two extinct species:[4]

* †North Island piopio (Turnagra tanagra)
* †South Island piopio (Turnagra capensis)

## Behaviour and ecology[edit]

Little is known about their biology. They frequented the undergrowth and forest floor. Their nests were well constructed cups placed in trees a few metres from the ground, in which two to four eggs were laid. Walter Buller described their calls as being among the most beautiful of any New Zealand bird. They were also able to mimic the calls of other birds. They were omnivorous, with records of them hawking for insects over a river, as well as eating spiders, fruit and oats.[3]

## Status[edit]

Extensive deforestation throughout the country (particularly in the lowlands) and the introduction of mammalian predators, particularly rats, to North Island and South Island in the 19th century during the period of European settlement are believed to have caused the extinctions of both species. The last verified North Island piopio was shot in 1902, although poorly documented sightings were reported as late as the 1970s. The South Island piopio was last recorded in 1905. Plans to move birds to predator-free islands were mooted but either never acted on or were derailed due to the lack of suitable sanctuaries.[5]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Johansson, Ulf; Eric Pasquet; Martin Irestedt (2011). "The New Zealand Thrush: An Extinct Oriole". PLOS ONE. 6 (9): e24317. Bibcode:2011PLoSO...624317J. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0024317. PMC 3170299. PMID 21931679.
2. ^ "Piopio - extinct songsters of New Zealand forests". Te Papa. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
3. ^ a b Worthy, Trevor H.; Richard N. Holdaway (2002). The Lost World of the Moa. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. pp. 424–427. ISBN 978-0-253-34034-4.
4. ^ "Orioles, drongos & fantails " IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2017-02-18.
5. ^ Tennyson, A. & Martinson, P. (2006). Extinct Birds of New Zealand Te Papa Press,Wellington ISBN 978-0-909010-21-8

## External links[edit]

* Piopio, the New Zealand thrush \- New Zealand Birds Limited
* South Island Piopio. Turnagra capensis. by Paul Martinson. Artwork produced for the book Extinct Birds of New Zealand, by Alan Tennyson, Te Papa Press, Wellington, 2006
* North Island Piopio. Turnagra tanagra. by Paul Martinson. Artwork produced for the book Extinct Birds of New Zealand, by Alan Tennyson, Te Papa Press, Wellington, 2006

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Birds of New Zealand

Common
birds|

* Bellbird (korimako)
* Black-billed gull (tarāpuka)
* Brown creeper (pipipi)
* Brown teal (pāteke)
* Buff-banded rail (moho-pererū)
* Dabchick (weweia)
* Double-banded plover (pohowera)
* New Zealand falcon (kārearea)
* Fantail (pīwakawaka)
* Grey warbler (riroriro)
* Grey-faced petrel (ōi)
* Sacred kingfisher (kōtare)
* Long-tailed cuckoo (koekoeā)
* Kererū
* Pipit (pīhoihoi)
* New Zealand dotterel (tūturiwhatu)
* South Island robin
* North Island robin
* New Zealand scaup (pāpango)
* Paradise shelduck (pūtangitangi)
* Pūkeko
* Rifleman (tītipounamu)
* New Zealand rock wren (pīwauwau)
* Shining cuckoo (pīpīwharauroa)
* Silvereye (tauhou)
* South Island oystercatcher (tōrea)
* Spotted shag (pārekareka)
* Tomtit (miromiro)
* Tūī
* Variable oystercatcher (tōrea pango)
* White-fronted tern (tara)
* Whitehead (pōpokotea)
* Wrybill (ngutuparore)

Flightless
birds|

* Great spotted kiwi (roroa)
* Little spotted kiwi (kiwi pukupuku)
* North Island brown kiwi (roroa)
* Okarito kiwi (rowi)
* Southern brown kiwi (tokoeka)
* Yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho)
* Kākāpō
* South Island takahē
* Fiordland penguin (tawaki)
* Weka
* Blue penguin (kororā)

Endangered
endemic birds
(flying)|

* Black-fronted tern (tarapiroe)
* Black stilt (kakī)
* Blue duck (whio)
* Fernbird (mātātā)
* Foveaux shag
* Kākā
* Kea
* North Island kōkako
* South Island kōkako
* New Zealand fairy tern (tara-iti)
* New Zealand king shag (kawau tūī)
* New Zealand storm petrel (takahikare)
* Northern royal albatross
* Otago shag (Matapo)
* Orange-fronted parakeet (kākāriki karaka)
* Red-billed gull (tarāpunga)
* North Island saddleback (tieke)
* South Island saddleback (tieke)
* Shore plover (tūturuatu)
* Stitchbird (hihi)
* Yellowhead (mōhua)

Chatham Islands
birds|

* Black robin (karure)
* Chatham albatross (toroa)
* Chatham gerygone
* Chatham oystercatcher (tōrea)
* Chatham parakeet
* Chatham petrel (ranguru)
* Chatham pigeon (parea)
* Chatham shag (papua)
* Chatham snipe
* Magenta petrel (tāiko)
* Pitt shag (kawau o rangihaute)

Subantarctic islands
birds|

* Antipodean albatross (Toroa)
* Auckland rail
* Auckland shag
* Auckland teal (tētē kākāriki)
* Antipodes parakeet
* Bounty shag
* Campbell albatross
* Campbell shag
* Campbell teal
* Erect-crested penguin (tawaki nana hī)
* Reischek's parakeet
* Snares snipe
* Snares penguin (pokotiwha)
* Subantarctic snipe (tutukiwi)

Extinct
birds|

* South Island piopio (piopio)
* New Zealand bittern (kaoriki)
* New Zealand quail (koreke)
* Huia
* Haast's eagle
* Moa
* North Island adzebill
* South Island adzebill
* Auckland Island merganser (rakiraki maungahuka)
* Chatham Island merganser
* Bushwren (mātuhituhi)
* Long-billed wren
* South Island stout-legged wren
* North Island stout-legged wren
* Lyall's wren
* Chatham kākā
* Laughing owl (whēkau)
* Chatham penguin
* Waitaha penguin
* Eyles' harrier (kērangi)
* North Island little spotted kiwi
* North Island snipe
* South Island snipe
* Forbes's snipe
* Snipe-rail
* Imber's petrel
* Scarlett's shearwater (ōiruki)
* North Island takahē (mōho)
* New Zealand goose
* Finsch's duck (manutahora)
* New Zealand owlet-nightjar (ruru hinapō)
* New Zealand musk duck
* New Zealand swan (poūwa)

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* e

Genera of corvides and their extinct allies

* Kingdom: Animalia
* Phylum: Chordata
* Order: Passeriformes
* Suborder: Passeri
* Infraorder: Corvides

Corvides

| Campephagidae|

* Campephaga
* Campochaera
* Ceblepyris
* Celebesica
* Coracina
* Cyanograucalus
* Edolisoma
* Lalage
* Lobotos
* Malindangia
* Pericrocotus

|

Cinclosomatidae|

* Cinclosoma
* Ptilorrhoa

Eulacestomatidae|

* Eulacestoma

Falcunculidae|

* Falcunculus

Mohouidae|

* Mohoua

Neosittidae|

* Daphoenositta

Oreoicidae|

* Aleadryas
* Oreoica
* Ornorectes

Oriolidae|

* †Longmornis
* Oriolus
* Pitohui
* Sphecotheres
* †Turnagra

Pachycephalidae|

* Colluricincla
* Coracornis
* Melanorectes
* Pachycephala
* Pseudorectes

Paramythiidae|

* Oreocharis
* Paramythia

Psophodidae|

* Androphobus
* Psophodes

Malaconotoidea|

*     * See below ↓

Corvoidea|

*     * See below ↓

Malaconotoidea

| Aegithinidae|

* Aegithina

|

Artamidae|

| Artaminae|

* Artamus

|

Craticinae|

* Cracticus
* Gymnorhina
* †Kurrartapu
* Melloria
* Strepera

Peltopsinae|

* Peltops

Machaerirhynchidae|

* Machaerirhynchus

Malaconotidae|

* Chlorophoneus
* Dryoscopus
* Laniarius
* Malaconotus
* Nilaus
* Rhodophoneus
* Tchagra
* Telophorus

Pityriasidae|

* Pityriasis

Platysteiridae|

* Batis
* Lanioturdus
* Platysteira

Rhagologidae|

* Rhagologus

Vangidae|

* Artamella
* Bias
* Calicalicus
* Cyanolanius
* Euryceros
* Falculea
* Hemipus
* Hypositta
* Leptopterus
* Megabyas
* Mystacornis
* Newtonia
* Oriolia
* Philentoma
* Prionops
* Pseudobias
* Schetba
* Tephrodornis
* Tylas
* Vanga
* Xenopirostris

Corvoidea

| Corcoracidae|

* Corcorax
* Struthidea

|

Corvidae|

* Aphelocoma
* Calocitta
* Cissa
* Corvus
* Crypsirina
* Cyanocitta
* Cyanocorax
* Cyanolyca
* Cyanopica
* Dendrocitta
* Garrulus
* Gymnorhinus
* †Henocitta
* †Miocitta
* †Miocorvus
* †Miopica
* Nucifraga
* Perisoreus
* Pica
* Platysmurus
* Podoces
* †Protocitta
* Psilorhinus
* Ptilostomus
* Pyrrhocorax
* Temnurus
* Urocissa
* Zavattariornis

Dicruridae|

* Dicrurus

Ifritidae|

* Ifrita

Laniidae|

* Eurocephalus
* Lanius

Melampittidae|

* Megalampitta
* Melampitta

Monarchidae|

| Monarchinae|

* Arses
* Carterornis
* Chasiempis
* Clytorhynchus
* Grallina
* Mayrornis
* Metabolus
* Monarcha
* Myiagra
* Neolalage
* Pomarea
* Symposiachrus

|

Terpsiphoninae|

* Hypothymis
* Terpsiphone
* Trochocercus

Paradisaeidae|

* Astrapia
* Cicinnurus
* Diphyllodes
* Drepanornis
* Epimachus
* Lophorina
* Lycocorax
* Manucodia
* Paradigalla
* Paradisaea
* Paradisornis
* Parotia
* Phonygammus
* Pteridophora
* Ptiloris
* Seleucidis
* Semioptera

Platylophidae|

* Platylophus

Rhipiduridae|

| Lamproliinae|

* Chaetorhynchus
* Eutrichomyias
* Lamprolia

|

Rhipidurinae|

* Rhipidura

Vireonidae|

* Cyclarhis
* Erpornis
* Hylophilus
* Pachysylvia
* Pteruthius
* Tunchiornis
* Vireo
* Vireolanius

Taxon identifiers|

* Wikidata: Q135467
* Wikispecies: Turnagra
* ADW: Turnagra
* BioLib: 30238
* BOLD: 725772
* CoL: 83V2
* Fossilworks: 143848
* GBIF: 2482430
* iNaturalist: 8646
* IRMNG: 1300447
* ITIS: 558323
* NCBI: 46905
* NZOR: 1142b074-9a50-4443-a853-b785ce65d373

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*[†]: Extinct