Parson Bird OR Tui

This bird, that the Maori called the Tui or Parson Bird is a honey eater. Its origin is doubtless from Australia and birders see them in New Zealand.

The Tui or Parson Bird is the one bird that resisted extinction and even prospered in the company of man in New Zealand and on surrounding isles. The Tui have penetrated the national emotions like no other New Zealand bird. The Tui became a familiar part of the every day lives, while other birds have faded into the deep bush and rejected man.

While taking a walk a Tui angrily and noisily dive bombed the person from a pine tree, before landing on a low branch of the tree across the path. The Parson Bird sat on the limb and watched through the branches of the tree. Was his mate nearby? Did they have a nest in the tree or was the Tui just being his usual antagonistic and annoying self?

Captain Cook while at Dusky Sound in 1773 on his second voyage, wrote thus of the Tui. "Under its throat hang two little tufts of snow-white feathers, called poies, which being the Otaheitean word for ear-rings, occasioned our giving that name to the bird; which is not more remarkable for the beauty of its plumage than the sweetness of its note. The flesh is also most delicious and was the greatest luxury the wood afforded us."

The Tui is colored a bright metallic green with turquoise imaging radiating off its shoulders and changes with the light. The top of its tail and lower part of its chest is a brilliant green too. On the Tui's neck you will find it decorated with thread like plumes. The Tui also has a clump of white under its chin.

Parson Birds are loners. Tuis are usually unaccompanied except at breeding time. Even though several Tuis may feed in the same tree they have clearly defined territories. Guthrie Smith maintains that the Tui very strongly resents the presence of other birds near its nest and will hunt them off.

These birds often soar and dive with their wings folded into their closed body. This seems as if they display the pleasure of life. Many people enjoy these birds so much they plant their gardens specifically for the Tui. They want to lure the birds to their yards and observe their antics.

When in flight their wings whir similar to the Mourning Dove. The whirring is caused by a notch in the wing feathers. When flying from one spot to another it generally flies high and moves downward abruptly to its objective.

Go To Page: 1 2 3