Ruvu Weaver

Male distinctive, with bright yellow head, yellowish underparts. Female is drab and streaky, usually with yellowish wash to face, and often found with bright males. Note bright rusty rump. White outer tail feathers flash in flight. A species of heathland, forest clearings, and farmland with hedges. Male sings from a prominent perch, giving a dry and uninspired “dzidzidzidzidzi.” Forms flocks in winter, feeding mainly on ground in search of seeds. A native of Eurasia, introduced to New Zealand and a few adjacent islands.

Small brown- and black-mottled wader with a long, slightly downcurved bill. The only snipe species known to occupy the Auckland, Campbell, and Antipodes Islands, with slight variations in size and markings between the three island subspecies. Prefers dense vegetation during the daytime. Male call often heard at dawn and dusk. Call is a “trerk trerk trerk” occasionally building to a “queeyoo queeyoo.” The Maori name (Hakawai) is given to their nocturnal aerial flight display, which includes a roaring sound of air vibrating through their spread tail feathers. Distinguished from possible vagrant Latham’s Snipe by smaller size and shorter wings and legs.

Large, brownish hummingbird with a long tail. Pale gray below with strong facial markings and a contrasting rufous rump; broad white tail feather tips are a key field mark. Occurs in dry forest and along savanna edge, where it visits widely spaced nectar sources and is often seen moving rapidly between them. Notably curious and will often stop to assess a person before quickly moving on; amount of white in tail is especially evident as bird flies away. Males sing from low perches; song consists of two squeaking notes followed by three faster, higher-pitched ones, given in alternation, over and over. Flight call is a loud squeak, similar to other large hermits. Best told from Long-tailed and Great-billed hermits by paler, grayer coloration and extensive white in tail.