Fantail, Pīwakawaka
Rhipidura fuliginosaBird Songs
Fantail/pīwakawaka songInformation
The fantail/pīwakawaka is one of New Zealand's best known birds, with its distinctive fanned tail, loud song and friendly behaviour.
Fantails/pīwakawaka occur in two colours: the common pied form and the rarer black form. Adult pied birds have a greyish head, prominent white eyebrows, brown back and rump, cinnamon breast and belly, white and black bands across the upper breast, and an iconic black and white tail. Black pīwakawaka are mostly black and may have black-brown over the rump, belly and flight feathers. They make up less than 5% of individuals across the South Island.
