Rifleman is the name of a tiny bird found throughout New Zealand. It is a stocky bird that grows up to 3 inches (8 centimeters) long. The rifleman has greenish-brown upper parts and light colored underparts. It uses its sharp and slender beak to pull spiders and insects from crevices in trees.
The rifleman forages for food on the large branches and trunks of trees, especially those of southern beeches. The male rifleman does most of the nest building. It also feeds the female before and during egg laying. The female rifleman lays five eggs. The male does most of the rearing of the chicks. Sometimes, the male is helped by other single birds that have not mated that season.
