BirdUp · Species
New Zealand Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa(Sparrman, 1787)
Updated
Also known asPīwakawakaTīwakawakaPiwaiwakaTchitake
- Order
- PASSERIFORMES
- Family
- Rhipiduridae
- Genus
- Rhipidura
At a glance
The New Zealand Fantail is a small bird, about 14–17 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.
- Size
- 14–17 cm
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
- Origin
- Native
- Best seen
- Year-round
- Commonness
- Very common
01 · Identification
How to tell it apart
What does a New Zealand Fantail look like?
The New Zealand Fantail is a small bird, about 14–17 cm long and weighing 5–12 g.
The New Zealand fantail is a small insectivorous bird, the only species of fantail in New Zealand. It has four subspecies: R. f. fuliginosa in the South Island, R. f. placabilis in the North Island, R. f. penita in the Chatham Islands, and the now-extinct R. f. cervina formerly on Lord Howe Island. It is also known by its Māori names, pīwakawaka, tīwakawaka or piwaiwaka, and the Chatham Island subspecies by the Moriori name tchitake; the common pied morph is also known as pied fantail, and the uncommon dark morph is also known as black fantail. The species has been considered by many to be conspecific 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.
Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
03 · When
When to look
When can you see a New Zealand Fantail?
The New Zealand Fantail is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
05 · Behaviour
Habits and haunts
What does a New Zealand Fantail eat?
The New Zealand Fantail feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.
06 · Gallery
Plumage up close
2 photos
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