The tui bird, also known as Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae, is a lively bird that can be found in New Zealand. With its blue, green, and bronze feathers, it’s hard to miss. What makes this bird stand out the most is its unique white throat tuft, or poi. Found only in New Zealand, the tui belongs to the Prosthemadera genus and is considered one of the larger species in the Meliphagidae family. While the tui is not the only bird in this family, it shares the honor with the New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura). You can spot the tui all across the New Zealand archipelago from the Kermadec Islands to the Auckland Islands.
The tui is a type of honeyeater that can reach up to 27 to 32 cm (11-13 inches) in length. Interestingly, the Chatham Islands subspecies of this bird is actually larger and heavier than the nominate subspecies. Generally speaking, male tuis are heavier than females. The weight of the nominate males range from 65-150 g (2.3-5.3 oz), while females weigh between 58-105 g (2.0-3.7 oz). On the other hand, males from the Chatham subspecies are much heavier, weighing between 89-240 g (3.1-8.5 oz), while females weigh between 89-170 g (3.1-6.0 oz).
Upon initial observation, the tūī bird appears to be entirely black except for a small white tuft of feathers at its neck and a small white patch on its wings, resembling a parson in religious attire. However, upon closer examination (as shown in the accompanying image), the tūī actually has brown feathers on its back and sides, as well as a colorful iridescent sheen that changes with different light angles. Additionally, the bird is adorned with tiny white feathers on the back and sides of its neck, creating a delicate collar effect.
Tūī are native to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country, with both the North Island and South Island being home to significant populations. The bird can also be found on Stewart Island/Rakiura, the Chatham Islands (where an endangered sub-species resides), Raoul Island in the Kermadecs, and the Auckland Islands (where it is one of the most southerly honeyeater species). In the past, tūī were eaten by Māori people after being preserved in calabashes or gourds. However, their numbers have drastically decreased since European colonization due to habitat destruction and predation by invasive mammalian species.
However, the tūī species is currently rated as safe and has shown signs of improvement in certain regions, especially when livestock is removed to give way for vegetation growth. Nevertheless, the presence of foreign predators such as brushtail possums (known for consuming eggs and chicks), cats, stoats, the common myna (which competes with tūī for food and occasionally preys on eggs), blackbirds, and rats still pose a potential threat.
The Tui bird species is typically found in broadleaf forests at lower elevations, although they have been spotted as high up as 1500 meters. They can adapt to small remnants of forests, regrowth areas, exotic plantations, and well-vegetated suburbs. These birds are commonly seen in urban areas of Wellington. While Tui birds are usually seen alone or in pairs, they gather in large groups at food sources, often alongside other birds like silvereyes, bellbirds, or kererū. There is a hierarchy among honeyeaters in New Zealand when competing for the same food resources, with the Tui being at the top and bellbirds being subordinate. Tūī will chase off bellbirds when competing for the same food source, such as a flowering flax plant.
As for their diet, the Tui bird mainly feeds on nectar, but they also consume fruits, insects, and occasionally pollen and seeds. They are especially fond of New Zealand flax, whose nectar sometimes ferments, causing the Tui to fly in a way that suggests they might be intoxicated. Tui birds are the main pollinators of flax, kōwhai, kaka beak, and some other plants. Interestingly, the shape of the flowers of these plants is similar to the Tui’s beak, indicating mutualistic coevolution.
During breeding season, both male and female birds work together to create the nest, though the female puts in the majority of the effort. The nest itself is a large and somewhat messy shallow cup shape. The eggs, which typically number four in a clutch, have a pale pink or white background with blotches of pale red that are mostly clustered around the larger end. These eggs measure an average of 27.5 mm × 20.3 mm (1.08 in × 0.80 in). Incubation of the eggs falls solely to the female, and the process takes two weeks. Once hatched, the chicks are only tended to by the female while both parents contribute to feeding them and removing their waste. After about 20 days, the chicks are ready to fledge. However, they will still be fed by their parents for the next few weeks.
The Tui birds possess a diverse range of melodies and vocalizations, similar to parrots. They share with parrots the remarkable talent of accurately mimicking human speech, which the Māori people exploited by training them to copy intricate verbal communication. Moreover, they can replicate various sounds like breaking glass, car alarms, classical music, and commercial jingles.
Each bird has a syrinx, a sound-producing organ that is usually regulated by two muscle sets. However, passerines, such as the tūī, have nine pairs of muscles, which give them the ability to create more intricate vocalizations. Tūī birds are visibly active while singing and can produce two sounds simultaneously due to their dual voice box. Additionally, tui songs show variation in terms of geography, microgeography, season, sex, and individuality. Interestingly, Tūī birds may even sing at night, particularly during the full moon phase.
