Sharpe's Akalat

Stunning hummingbird with a short straight bill. Males have a dark blue crown with red, blue, and gold tufted “horns” on the side. Otherwise largely metallic green above and white below with a black throat. Females have a green cap and lack the horns. Found in riverine belts and open savanna grasslands; may venture into adjacent human-modified habitats.

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.”

Greenish-backed, yellow-bellied, gray-headed, and rufous-crowned, this colorful small warbler closely resembles a Mountain Tailorbird; look for a significantly shorter bill and more extensive rufous on the crown. Forages actively and sometimes socially in thick, dense undergrowth in mid- to upper-elevation forests, often in stands of bamboo. Song consists of high thin “tseeeee” and “tsi-leeeeee” notes, as well as a lower-pitched rollicking sputter.