mātuhituhi
1. (noun) rock wren, Xenicus gilviventris - small endemic alpine bird with a very short tail, the male being dull green above, grey-brown below, the female olive-brown. Found near the tree-line of the South Island mountains. Related bush wren, with similar Māori names, is thought to be extinct.
See also pīwauwau
Synonyms: hurupounamu, pīwauwau
2. (noun) bush wren, Xenicus longipes - small endemic forest and scrub bird with a very short tail, Head is dark olive brown with clear white eyebroe stripe. Underparts ash-grey. Long feet and toes. Probably extinct.
E hoa mā ē, kia huri mai te taringa ki te whakarongo ki te tangi a te mātuhituhi e tangi nei, 'Tuia, tuia, tuituia.' (HTK 25/11/1893:6). / Friends, listen to the call of the bush wren which calls, 'Tuia, tuia, tuituia (Bind us all together).'
See also hurupounamu
