Hombron and Jacquinot first encountered these birds when they stopped off in Australia as part the French expedition to Antarctica of 1837–1840, traveling aboard the Astrolabe. While Hombron initially placed the bird in the genus Erythura, he indicated that the short legs of the bird could necessitate a new genus, Neochimia.
Hombron and Jacquinot initially came across these birds during their stopover in Australia as part of the French expedition to Antarctica from 1837-1840, traveling on the Astrolabe. Initially, Hombron placed the bird in the genus Erythura, but noted that its short legs might necessitate a new genus, Neochimia.