The pīwakawaka (New Zealand fantail) have become iconic manu (birds) and are found throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. They’re one of our most conspicuous manu despite their small size and drab colouring - until they fan their tail out. Sometimes their tail is all I can see of them amongst the foliage!
Like the riroriro (grey warbler) they are often heard before they are seen, with a repetitive, chattering cheet-cheet.
They catch food ‘on the wing’ and will often follow me around the garden while I work, kicking up insects for them to come eat. Occasionally they’ll catch an insect that’s too big for their beak. Instead of finding something smaller, the pīwakawaka will alight on a branch and clasp its prey against the perch to peck away at.
In writing this post, I learned there are actually four sub-species of the New Zealand fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) - one of which is now extinct. There’s the North Island, the South Island (including the black morph), and the Chatham Island fantails, which each have clear variations from one another. The main difference between the subspecies can be seen in the tail colouring.1
There’s also the Lord Howe Island (Australian) sub-species which, though once common, was wiped out in a mere twenty years after black rats were introduced to the island.2
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed (Wikipedia).
Other than the demise of the Lord Howe Island population, Pīwakawaka have managed comparatively well with human habitation (and the mammalian pests we’ve introduced). While they only eat insects and spiders, they’re not really too fussy about which ones they eat. This means they’re able to thrive in surburbia as much as in old growth ngāhere (forest) - as long as there are enough invertebrates around.
Like all our manu, predators like rats, stoats, ferrets, and possums are a problem for pīwakawaka. However, they’ll have multiple broods each breeding season so there’s a higher chance that at least some of their fledglings will survive into adulthood.
So, how do you get pīwakawaka to visit your place? Let the insects live: think twice before using pesticides, leave the leaves during autumn, and create a woodpile for wildlife. They like flitting about so trees or shrubs are a must, and they won’t say no to a bit of water. You might also consider backyard pest trapping.
Happy fantail finding!
Zenobia x
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https://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/new-zealand-fantail
https://lhimuseum.com/learn/extinct-birds/