New Zealand Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)
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Also known as Parson bird, Poe bee-eater, New Zealand creeper, Koko, Mocking bird.
The Tui (prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), native to New Zealand, has entered our national consciousness like no other New Zealand bird. It is one of the largest members of the diverse honey eater family (about 30 cm long) with the male weighing around 120 gm, and the female 90 gm.
Although the Tui looks black in dull light, it actually has a green, bluish-purple and bronze iridescent sheen, back and flanks dark reddish brown; with two white throat tufts (poi), a lacy collar of filamentous white feathers on neck; white wing bar; slightly curved black bill and strong black legs. Sexes are alike. Juvenile dull slate black with glossy wings and tail, greyish-white throat, lacks tufts.
They are energetic and acrobatic while feeding in trees on nectar and fruit. They are very noisy birds, always “carrying on”, chortling and chuckling, before bursting into a marvellous song.
Ref: TERRAIN.net
Although the Tui looks black in dull light, it actually has a green, bluish-purple and bronze iridescent sheen, back and flanks dark reddish brown; with two white throat tufts (poi), a lacy collar of filamentous white feathers on neck; white wing bar; slightly curved black bill and strong black legs. Sexes are alike. Juvenile dull slate black with glossy wings and tail, greyish-white throat, lacks tufts.
They are energetic and acrobatic while feeding in trees on nectar and fruit. They are very noisy birds, always “carrying on”, chortling and chuckling, before bursting into a marvellous song.
Ref: TERRAIN.net
