South Island kōkako 'ghost bird'
The South Island kōkako, declared extinct in 2007, was reclassified as 'data deficient' in 2013 after a 2007 sighting near Reefton was accepted; a reward was later offered for proof.
2007 CE · -42.10, 171.86 · status: disputed
The account
Hundreds of unconfirmed reports of the orange-wattled bird and its organ-like song have been logged by the South Island Kōkako Charitable Trust, which offers a reward for verified photographs or recordings.
The sceptical view
No photograph, recording or specimen has been confirmed since the 1960s; tūī and other birds can mimic parts of its call.
The researched reading
A real bird that may or may not survive. Many reports are likely mimics, but a small remnant population is a fair possibility until a photo or recording settles it.
| Explanation | Weight | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Something known, misidentified | 45% | Tūī and bellbirds mimic organ-like phrases, and brief glimpses in dense forest are unreliable. Most of the hundreds of reports cannot be distinguished from these. |
| An unknown or out-of-place animal | 35% | The Department of Conservation accepted a 2007 sighting near Reefton and reclassified the bird. Large tracts of suitable South Island forest remain, so a tiny surviving population is possible. |
| Perception, memory or mind | 10% | A reward and a cherished “ghost bird” raise expectation among observers. |
| A cultural story | 6% | The bird’s legend and Māori traditions keep interest high. |
| A hoax or fabrication | 3% | No proven fakes, but rewards attract them. |
| Genuinely anomalous | 1% | A real bird, so nothing anomalous. |
Official position: The bird was reclassified from extinct to data deficient in 2013 after a 2007 sighting was accepted.