The scientific name of this little guy is Petroica macrocephala, and tomtits do indeed have big heads (macro = big + cephala = head) attached to their tiny bodies. Tomtits feed on insects in native and exotic forests and subspecies are found throughout the country. This is a South Island tomtit (Petroica macrocephala macrocephala), photographed stalking trampers in the Cobb Valley/Fenella Hut area of the Kahurangi National Park. The little white fleck above its bill is barely noticeable in this photo, but when the tomtit really wants to show off, this blip can be made to stand up and appear larger. The tomtit’s official status is ‘Not Threatened’, which means that its population is relatively large and is either stable or increasing.
You must be logged in to post a comment.