New Zealand Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa
One of New Zealand’s best-known small endemic songbirds. Widespread throughout New Zealand in a variety of habitats, including urban parks and gardens. Uniquely characterized by a long white and black tail which it constantly flicks around and fans, and which is often the first thing visible. Will often approach people closely. Constantly on the move, hawking for insects in acrobatic flight. Uncommon all-black morph is present on the South Island and occasionally seen on the North Island. Listen for frequent vocal sounds consisting of a regular “cheep” or a squeaky “tweeta-tweeta-tweeta.”
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Rhipidura fuliginosa
- Authority
- (Sparrman, 1787)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Rhipiduridae
- Genus
- Rhipidura
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike
Prionops rufiventris
A boldly patterned helmetshrike of lowland forests, often seen in small vocal groups. The bill is red and the head and chin are overall silvery gray. Has a black neck band and black wings, back, and tail. The chest is white and the belly, vent, and legs are reddish. Similar to the Red-billed Helmetshrike, with which it co-occurs locally in Cameroon, but Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike can be identified by its silvery gray chin and head (including below the eye) and the more extensive reddish coloration on its belly. Calls consist of liquid whistles and repeated grating “chew-two” calls.
Persian Shearwater
Puffinus persicus
A relatively small shearwater with uniformly white underparts. The upperparts are pale brown throughout with some of the brown extending to the flanks. The wings are almost entirely brown except for a white shaft down the middle. Though small in size, it is heavily built with proportionally broad wings. Flies low over the water with a purposeful and fast flight and smooth gliding. Feeds off the water surface and occasionally makes shallow dives.
Yellow-breasted Bowerbird
Chlamydera lauterbachi
A rather drab bowerbird of forest edge and cultivation from the lowlands to the mid-mountains. Olive-brown back and wings with pale-edged feathers giving a scaled effect. Yellow belly, streaky throat and face. Makes a unique 4-walled bower. Similar to Fawn-breasted Bowbird, but Yellow-breasted Bowerbird has a yellow rather than buffy belly and an unstreaked crown. Call, a loud, downward “kyew!”.
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