The adzebills, genus Aptornis, were two closely related bird species, the North Island adzebill, (Aptornis otidiformis), and the South Island adzebill, (Aptornis defossor), of the extinct family Aptornithidae. The family was endemic to New Zealand.

2020年6月8日 · On display in the Southern Lands, Southern People gallery is an extinct bird with a mysterious history. This bird is not very well known by the public of New Zealand and its past is being uncovered slowly. This bird is the adzebill, an endemic bird that stood at about 80 cm tall.

Adzebill是鹤形目秧鸡亚目下的一种已灭绝的大型不飞鸟，暂无正式的中文名（本文可能是中文网络上首篇介绍这类鸟类的文章），本文暂称其为镐嘴秧鸡（参考现生鸟类中名，也考虑了铲嘴/阔嘴/扁嘴等译名，欢迎讨论）。

The smaller of two large heavy flightless rail- or crane-like extinct bird species with a massive skull, long pointed heavily down-curved bill, long thick neck, and short robust legs and feet. Similar in size to the smaller moa species, the North Island adzebill was 20% smaller than its South Island counterpart.

The South Island adzebill was found at scattered sites throughout the South Island. It is thought that the species preferred dry podocarp forests, and was largely absent from the West Coast and Central Otago. They were widespread during the cold, dry climate of the Pleistocene, but became restricted to drier eastern areas in the succeeding ...

2024年11月2日 · Using hybridisation enrichment and high-throughput sequencing of DNA extracted from subfossil bone and eggshell, near-complete mitochondrial genomes were successfully assembled from the two Quaternary adzebill species: the North Island Adzebill (Aptornis otidiformis) and South Island Adzebill (A. defossor).

Hefty flightless birds with massive beaks, they disappeared in the first wave of extinctions following human arrival in Aotearoa and are known only from their skeletons. Their bone chemistry indicates they were carnivores, and their pick-like beaks and powerful feet suggest they were diggers, perhaps excavating tuatara and seabirds from burrows.

The adzebills, genus Aptornis, were two closely related bird species, the North Island adzebill, Aptornis otidiformis, and the South Island adzebill, Aptornis defossor, of the extinct family Aptornithidae. The family was endemic to New Zealand. A fossil species, Aptornis proasciarostratus, is known from the Miocene Saint Bathans Fauna.

The adzebill was, as far as anyone can tell, a giant flightless killer in the shape of a goose. It had a formidable beak shaped like a pick, very strong legs, and probably weighed around 20 kilograms.

Adzebills were large, terrestrial birds characterized by their long legs and stout bodies. Standing approximately 1 meter tall, the most well-known species, the Aptornis defossor, was akin to a giant, flightless rail.