New Zealand’s smallest bird, the rifleman/tītipounamu (Acanthisitta chloris), feeds exclusively on insects. They browse native forests, going up and down trees, systematically hunting down their tiny prey. This rifleman on the track to Mt Arthur Hut has taken an interest in what’s inhabiting the mosses and lichens on the underside of a branch (probably a beech).
These rifleman explore all angles. A daring acrobatic feat? How hard can it really be to hang on to the side of a tree with your feet if you weigh only 6 grams? Oh wait, he’s only using one foot. Awesome!
Then there’s this third pic, which confused my brain when I was going through this series of photos. Yes, it is actually the right way up. When you weigh just 6 grams, does gravity really matter?
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