Tui - BirdForum Opus

Adult
Photo © by kaimaikid
Location: Tauranga, New Zealand, 9 August 2006

Alternative name: Parson Bird

Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

Fledgling
Photo © by Bruce Winslade
North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand, 17 December 2005

Identification

27–32 cm (10½-12½ in); weight about 140g

• Metallic dark green and blue plumage
• Brownish patches on back and flanks
• Small white wing patch
• Tuft of white feathers at throat
• Bill and feet brown-black

Distribution

New Zealand.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are 3 subspecies^[1]:

• P. n. novaeseelandiae:

• New Zealand, Stewart Island and Auckland Islands

• P. n. kermadecensis:

• Kermadec Islands

• P. n. chathamensis:

• Chatham Islands: larger.

The population on the Kermadec Islands is given subspecies status by Clement/eBird but is considered inseparable from nominate by most other authorities.

Habitat

Mixed broad leaf/podocarp forests, bush and gardens.

Behaviour

A powerful flyer.

Diet

The diet consists mainly of nectar, honeydew, pollen, insects and invertebrates. Seasonal fruit and occasionally seeds and pollen Will visit feeding stations for honey and sugar water.

Photo © by Craig Wilson
Waitati, New Zealand, 15 April 2017

Breeding

Females build nests of twigs, grasses and mosses.

Vocalisation

A great mimic they have pleasant, far-reaching, musical notes. Both sexes sing.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Higgins, P., Christidis, L. & Ford, H. (2017). Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/60266 on 28 January 2017).
3. Wikipedia contributors, "Tui (bird)," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tui_(bird)&oldid=756654206 (accessed January 29, 2017).
4. Higgins , P.J.; Peter, J.M. & Steele , W.K. (editors) 2001. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds. Volume 5, Tyrant-flycatchers to chats. Melbourne, Oxford University Press . Pages 51-55, 457-462, 1191-1207; plate 41.
5. Robertson, H.A. 2013. Tui. In Miskelly, C.M. (ed.) New Zealand Birds Online. http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz
6. BirdForum member observations

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Tui. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Tui

External Links

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