Tui

Description:

This tui was searching for insects amongst the lichen on a tree in my garden. Endemic species to New Zealand it is found throughout mainland New Zealand, and two subspecies live on the Chatham islands.. Both sexes look alike but the female is slightly smaller. Curved bill and dark plummage with distinctive white tuff of shafted feathers under its throat which curl on sides of neck.

Habitat:

Prolific in native forest, on offshore islands and also lives in suburban gardens where it feeds on fruit, nectar and invertebrates especially large insects such as cicadas and stick insects

Notes:

Tui is one of two New Zealand members of the honeyeater family, the other being the bellbird (korimako)