The New Zealand Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) is a small insectivorous bird, the only species of fantail in New Zealand. It has four subspecies: Rhipidura fuliginosa fuliginosa in the South Island, Rhipidura fuliginosa placabilis in the North Island, Rhipidura fuliginosa penita in the Chatham Islands, and the now-extinct Rhipidura fuliginosa cervina formerly on Lord Howe Island.
It is also known by its Maori names, PÄ«wakawaka, TÄ«wakawaka or Piwaiwaka; the common pied morph is also known as pied fantail (not to be confused with the Malaysian or Philippine pied fantails), and the uncommon dark morph is also known as black fantail (not to be confused with the black fantail of New Guinea).
The species has been considered by many to be conspecific (the same) as the Grey Fantail of Australia and New Caledonia; however, due to significant differences in its calls, many authorities now treat it as a separate species
Range map from www.oiseaux.net - Ornithological Portal Oiseaux.net
www.oiseaux.net
is one of those MUST visit pages if you're in to bird watching. You can find just about everything there
Description
This fantail is mid to dark grey or grey-brown above, yellowish/orange below, with a dark band across the chest below a white throat, white markings over the eye, and (depending on the race) either white-edged or entirely white outer tail feathers.
It grows to 16 cm in length, of which half is the tail, which, as the name implies, is often displayed fanned out. This reveals that the outer tail feathers that are light and the centre ones are dark.
Some subspecies are found in a darker plumage, notably the "black fantail" morph seen in 4% of South Island birds and less than 1% of North Island birds (it is completely absent from the Chatham Islands). The black morph lacks the white areas and so is dark all over apart from a white spot behind the eye.
Juveniles are similar to the adults but have a browner body and indistinct body markings.
New Zealand Pied Fantail and Black Fantail illustration.
By By J. G. Keulemans, in W.L. Buller's A History of the Birds of New Zealand. 2nd edition. Published 1888,
cropped and colours adjusted by Tony Wills - File:Bul01BirdP008.jpg from New Zealand Electronic Text Centre, CC BY-SA 3.0 nz,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7656135
cropped and colours adjusted by Tony Wills - File:Bul01BirdP008.jpg from New Zealand Electronic Text Centre, CC BY-SA 3.0 nz,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7656135
Behaviour
During waking hours the bird is almost never still. It flits from perch to perch, sometimes on the ground but mostly on the twigs of a tree or any other convenient object, looking out for flying insects.
The birds are not shy, and will often flit within a few metres of people, especially in forested areas and suburban gardens. In doing so, it is able to catch any small flying insects that may have been disturbed by human activities such as walking or digging. Under cold temperatures a flock of fantails will huddle to stay warm.
The bird's call is an almost metallic cheek, either as a single sound or (more often) repeated as a chattering.
Listen to the New Zealand Fantail
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
Breeding
The New Zealand fantail is a seasonal breeder, nesting from August to March in the North Island, September to January in the South Island and October to January on the Chatham Islands. They usually raise two or more broods per season.
The birds form compact, cup-shaped nests, usually in the forks of trees, made from moss, bark and fibre, and often completed with spider's web. Both sexes build the nest. The clutch size is usually three to four cream eggs which are spotted grey and brown.
The incubation period is around two weeks, and incubation and feeding duties are shared by both adults. Nest building and incubation of the second brood may occur while the fledged young of the first brood are still being fed. Young males may begin breeding two months after fledging. The nests of the New Zealand fantail are occasionally parasitised by the two species of cuckoo in New Zealand.
In Mythology
In Maori mythology, the piwakawaka is a messenger, bringing death or news of death from the gods to the people. The bulbous eyes and erratic flying behaviour of the bird is attributed to it being squeezed by Maui for not revealing the whereabouts of his ancestress Mahuika, the fire deity. Tiwakawaka is also the name of one of the first Maori settlers to New Zealand.
Conservation status
Least concern
(IUCN 3.1)
IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2.
International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sighted: 28 October 2017 (Date of first photo that I could use)
Location: Western Springs, Auckland
New Zealand fantail - Rhipidura fuliginosa - Western Springs, Auckland - 28 October 2017
New Zealand fantail - Rhipidura fuliginosa - Western Springs, Auckland - 28 October 2017
New Zealand fantail - Rhipidura fuliginosa - Western Springs, Auckland - 28 October 2017
New Zealand fantail - Rhipidura fuliginosa - Western Springs, Auckland - 28 October 2017
New Zealand fantail - Rhipidura fuliginosa - Western Springs, Auckland - 28 October 2017
New Zealand fantail - Rhipidura fuliginosa - Western Springs, Auckland - 28 October 2017
New Zealand fantail - Rhipidura fuliginosa - Auckland Domain - 29 October 2017
New Zealand fantail - Rhipidura fuliginosa - Auckland Domain - 29 October 2017
New Zealand fantail - Rhipidura fuliginosa - Puketi Nature Trail - 29 October 2017
New Zealand fantail - Rhipidura fuliginosa - Puketi Nature Trail - 29 October 2017
Going bird watching on New Zealand? I have been to a few places but so far New Zealand is outstanding regarding information on the internet. There are two organizations that are sticking
out so far when it comes to information about birds and wildlife/ outdoor living.Bird information, bird song and maps. Yes, there are excellent trekking maps online so you can plan, or go back after the trek to see where you have been, excellent. I have not been disappointed.
• New Zealand Birds Online nzbirdsonline.org.nz
• New Zealand's Department of Conservation www.doc.govt.nz Click on “Nature” or just hoover with the mouse over the “Nature”
Many other places I have been to have excellent maps on site, but trying to find them online
rendering nothing but disappointments. The New Zealand's Department of Conservation is the ONE STOP ONLY for everything regarding outdoor activities on New Zealand.New Zealand Birds Online, there is everything you ever wish to know about the birds on New Zealand. Nothing less than fantastic. Click HERE to down load Checklist of the birds of NZ from New Zealand Birds Online web page nzbirdsonline.org.nz
One of the best web pages I have ever seen when it comes to birding. All the information you can ever ask for and a ONE STOP for all your needs before going bird watching on New Zealand. Range maps, sounds, information and bird lists, everything you need.
PLEASE! If I have made any mistakes identifying any bird, PLEASE let me know on my guestbook
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