North Island Kokako

The North Island kōkako (Callaeas wilsoni) is a forest bird endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. It is grey in colour, with a small black mask. Adults have distinctive blue wattles, earning the species moniker of blue-wattled crow, though they are not corvids. The name "kōkako" comes from its vocalization: the bird's main call has been described as a "slow, rich 'ko-ka-ko-o-o-o', trailing off at the end". == Physical features == The North Island kōkako can be identified by its silky grey plumage and by a pair of blue, fleshy wattles at the base of the bill. Its overall colouration is a soft, slate-grey to smoky blue hue that envelops its entire body with slightly darker colouring on the wings and tail. The face of the kōkako features a black facial mask that covers the area around the eyes and extends to the base of the bill, which is relatively short and curves slightly downward. Its bill is black in color and sturdy, and is suited to the bird's omnivorous diet of fruits, leaves, and invertebrates. The species' most notable feature is its vivid blue wattles. These wattles are typically a saturated cobalt or ultramarine blue, with subtle…