Hemiphaga fossil map
Where fossils of Hemiphaga have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 0 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Prehistoric birds |
|---|---|
| Lived | 5.333 million years ago to the present (Zanclean to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Named by | Bonaparte 1854 |
| Fossil records | 41 occurrences at 31 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | New Zealand, Norfolk Island |
| Rock formations | txn:39353, Hillgrove, Whenuataru Tuff |
About Hemiphaga
Hemiphaga is a genus of large pigeons from New Zealand and Norfolk Island. There are two species, one of which is divided into two subspecies.
Hemiphaga novaseelandiae consists of the kererū or New Zealand pigeon (H. n. novaseelandiae) of the main New Zealand archipelago, and the Norfolk pigeon (H. n. spadicea) of Norfolk Island (a territory of Australia), which became extinct in the early 20th century. The subspecies differed in their plumage colour and shape.
The other species is the Chatham Islands pigeon (Hemiphaga chathamensis) of the Chatham Islands, 650 km from the main New Zealand archipelago. Previously considered a subspecies (H. n. chathamensis) of the kererū, it was proposed in 2001 that it was distinct enough to be raised to full species status, and this has been accepted by most authorities.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Hemiphaga (revision 1380683916), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q1195661.
