Piopio (bird)

See text The piopio or turnagras are an extinct genus of passerine birds in the family Oriolidae, that were endemic to New Zealand.

[1] They have been said to have more in common with the bowerbird family of Australia, but they differ in terms of nest construction, egg marking, and voice.

[2] The specific names of both species were based on mistakes; Turnagra capensis was so named because Anders Sparrman mixed up his specimens and thought the bird had been collected in South Africa (capensis referring to the Cape of Good Hope).

The last verified North Island piopio was shot in 1902, although poorly documented sightings were reported as late as the 1970s.

Plans to move birds to predator-free islands were mooted but either never acted on or were derailed due to the lack of suitable sanctuaries.