The tui (Prosthemadera novaseelandiae) on this flax bush at Kina Beach shows off the classic tui colouring. Its dark feathers can glisten with blue-green iridescence in sunlight, while others on its back appear a more chocolate brown. In low light or shadow, tui appear to be almost black. The bright white puff under the throat and the sprinkling of fine, lacy feathers on the neck looked to early settlers like clerical garb, gaining the tui the nickname of “parson bird”. The tui’s song is loud and melodic, with regular creaks and wheezes thrown in. Tui prefer to feed on nectar, although they will settle for insects if there’s not enough nectar to go around. It’s not uncommon to see one tui chasing another away from a good food source. They don’t like sharing.
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