Ah, tomorrow is Australia Day, and you know what that means. At Bird of the Week it is officially New Zealand Bird Appreciation Day. And this year do I have a beauty for you, the Tui.
The Tui is a large species of honeyeater. Just one look at this fellow and you can tell they’re unique. Check out that strange little pom-pom on the front of their chest. At first glance the Tui can look all black, and because of this pop of white on their throat they were originally known as Parson Birds, supposedly because they resemblance a priests wearing their collar. But look a little closer and it’s obvious they have a lot of colour going on, particularly around their neck where they have some curly grey hair-like feathers twirling about.
In New Zealand’s forests the Tui plays an important role as a pollinator. Their beaks have evolved to perfectly match the shape and length of many different flowers, and as the bird go from one to the next, feeding on nectar, they pick up pollen on the brow of their head and deposit it at the next flower. Their like a giant, raucous bee.
Speaking of raucous, the Tui is also famed for the wide repertoire of songs they sing. They have everything from melodious twittering, harsh electric calls, and even rude scalding tones. In some ways, they’re a little bit like a parrot as they have an uncanny ability to mimic other sounds, including human speech. If you’re interested here is a video of one doing its thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YHnXe7WKpU
26/01/2024
Photo credit:
1: “Tui striking a pose” by __Wichid__
2: “Tui Delight” by Angel Lite Photography
3: Sid Mosdell from New Zealand – Tūī on HarakekeUploaded by snowmanradio.
Bird of the Week 