Mātātā / Fernbird

Poodytes punctatus

At Risk - Declining

Elusive, earthy-toned and full of character, the New Zealand fernbird, or mātātā, is often heard but rarely seen. These shy, ground-dwelling birds are perfectly adapted to life in dense wetlands, shrublands and reed beds, where they weave through vegetation with their long tails flicking behind them. Sometimes called the “bush ghost,” mātātā are a taonga species and a treasured part of Aotearoa’s biodiversity.

Quick Facts:

• Fernbirds are more often heard than seen – their distinctive “uu-tick” duet call echoes across wetland margins.
• They are poor fliers, preferring to scramble through vegetation with agility and stealth.
• Nest low in dense cover, leaving them vulnerable to habitat loss and predation by rats, stoats, and cats.
• Their presence is a strong indicator of healthy, intact wetland and shrubland ecosystems.

Protecting mātātā means preserving the quiet, undisturbed habitats they call home – keeping the whisper of the wetlands alive.

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