Description
The Rifleman is New Zealand's smallest endemic bird, with fully grown adults reaching around 8 cm. The male Rifleman is bright green on the dorsal side while the female is of a more somber brownish tone and her head and back are flecked with ochre. Male birds typically weigh around 6 g, females 7 g. Both birds are white on their under surfaces and have white eyebrow stripes. They have short, rounded wings, a very short tail, and a long thin awl-like bill which is slightly upturned for insertion into cracks. The Rifleman flies quickly with a wing beat producing a characteristic humming sound like a humming bird.
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