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New Zealand Fantail

Rhipidura fuliginosa

The New Zealand fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) 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 (not to be confused with the Malaysian or Philippine pied fantails), and the uncommon dark morph is also known as black fantail (not to be confused with the black fantail of New Guinea). The species has been considered by many to be conspecific (the same) 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. This fantail is mid to dark grey or grey-brown above, yellowish/orange below, with a dark band across the chest below a white throat, white markings over the eye, and (depending on the race) either white-edged or entirely white outer tail feathers. It grows to 16 cm in length, of which half is the tail, which, as the name implies, is often displayed fanned out. This reveals that the outer tail feathers are light and the centre ones are dark. Some subspecies are found in a darker plumage, notably the "black fantail" morph seen in 4% of South Island birds and less than 1% of North Island birds (it is completely absent from the Chatham Islands). The black morph lacks the white areas and so is dark all over apart from a white spot behind the eye. Fantails are also famous worldwide for their fan-shaped tail. Juveniles are similar to the adults but have a browner body and indistinct body markings.
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New Zealand Fantails on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
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Tim de Mare
Wednesday 17 May 2023 - 4:28am
New Zealand
A photo of a New Zealand Fantail photographed in Wellington--Otari Wilton Bush New Zealand
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Chaucey Ellis
Sunday 14 May 2023 - 2:37am
New Zealand
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Chaucey Ellis
Chaucey Ellis
Sunday 14 May 2023 - 2:32am
New Zealand
A photo of a New Zealand Fantail photographed in Havelock North--Karamu Stream Path New Zealand
Profile picture for Tim de Mare
Tim de Mare
Saturday 13 May 2023 - 5:04am
New Zealand
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