Tui
Tui, adult with young
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Meliphagidae Genus: Prosthemadera Gray, 1840 Species: P. novaeseelandiae
Binomial name
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae (Gmelin, 1788)

A Tui on a flax flower

The Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) is an endemic passerine bird of New Zealand, one of the largest members of the diverse honeyeater family. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 441 × 506 pixelsFull resolution (441 × 506 pixel, file size: 149 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Tui (bird) Metadata This file contains... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn3. ... Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to species or lower taxa which do not qualify for any other category. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Animalia redirects here. ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... “Aves” redirects here. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... Genera  Anthochaera  Acanthagenys  Plectorhyncha  Philemon  Xanthornyzma  Entomyzon  Manorina  Xanthotis  Meliphaga  Lichenostomus  Melithreptus  Notiomystis  Glycichaera  Lichmera  Trichodere  Grantiella  Phylidonyris  Ramsayornis  Conopophila  Acanthorhynchus  Certhionyx  Myzomela  Anthornis  Prosthemadera  Epthianura  Ashbyia The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium sized birds most common in Australia and New Guinea, but also... George Robert Gray (July 8, 1808 - May 6, 1872) was an English zoologist and author and head of the ornithological section of the British Museum in London for forty-one years. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... Johann Friedrich Gmelin (August 8, 1748 - November 1, 1804) was a German naturalist and botanist. ... Image File history File links Description: Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) on flax bush Photograph: Moriori Date: Nov 23, 2004 first upload in en wikipedia on 23:06, 23 November 2004 by Moriori Licence: File links The following pages link to this file: Wikipedia:List of images/Nature/Animals/Birds Tui (bird... Image File history File links Description: Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) on flax bush Photograph: Moriori Date: Nov 23, 2004 first upload in en wikipedia on 23:06, 23 November 2004 by Moriori Licence: File links The following pages link to this file: Wikipedia:List of images/Nature/Animals/Birds Tui (bird... In biology and ecology endemic means exclusively native to a place or biota, in contrast to cosmopolitan or introduced. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... “Aves” redirects here. ... Genera Anthochaera Acanthagenys Plectorhyncha Philemon Xanthornyzma Entomyzon Manorina Xanthotis Meliphaga Lichenostomus Melithreptus Notiomystis Glycichaera Lichmera Trichodere Grantiella Phylidonyris Ramsayornis Conopophila Acanthorhynchus Certhionyx Myzomela Anthornis Prosthemadera Epthianura Ashbyia The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium sized birds most common in Australia and New Guinea, but also...

The name Tui is from the Maori language name tūī and is the formal common name; the plural is generally simply 'Tui' following Māori usage. The English name, Parson Bird, has fallen into disuse but came about because at first glance the Tui appears completely black except for a small tuft of white feathers at its neck and a small white wing patch, causing it to resemble a parson in religious attire. Māori (or Maori) is a language spoken by the native peoples of New Zealand and the Cook Islands. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Two feathers Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. ... A parson is a member of the Protestant clergy. ...

On closer inspection, it can be seen from the photo that Tui have faded browner patches on the back and flanks, a multicoloured iridescent sheen which varies with the angle from which the light strikes them, and a dusting of small, white-shafted feathers on the back and sides of the neck that produce a lacy collar.

Behaviour

Tui are considered to be very intelligent, much like parrots. They also resemble parrots in their ability to imitate human speech, and are known for their noisy, unusual call, different for each individual, which combines bellbird-like notes with clicks, cackles and wheezing sounds-( the unusual possession of 2 voiceboxes enable Tui to perform such a myriad of vocalisations). Some of the huge range of Tui sounds are beyond the human register. Watching a Tui sing, one can observe gaps in the sound when the beak is agape and throat tufts throbbing. Tui will also sing at night, especially around the full moon period. Intelligence is the mental capacity to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend ideas and language, and learn. ... It has been suggested that True parrots be merged into this article or section. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Nectar is the primary diet item but fruit and insects are frequently taken, and pollen and seeds more occasionally. Particularly popular is the New Zealand flax, whose nectar sometimes ferments, resulting in the Tui flying in a fashion that suggests that they might be drunk. Tui are the main pollinators of flax, kowhai, kaka beak and some other plants. Note that the flowers of the three plants mentioned are similar in shape to the Tui beak- a vivid example of symbiosis. In Greek mythology, nectar and ambrosia are the food of the gods. ... For other uses, see Fruit (disambiguation). ... Orders See taxonomy Insects (Class Insecta) are a major group of arthropods and the most diverse group of animals on the Earth, with over a million described species—more than all other animal groups combined. ... SEM image of pollen grains from a variety of common plants: sunflower (Helianthus annuus), morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea), prairie hollyhock (Sidalcea malviflora), oriental lily (Lilium auratum), evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa), and castor bean (Ricinus communis). ... A ripe red jalapeño cut open to show the seeds For other uses, see Seed (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Phormium tenax New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax), known as Harakeke by New Zealand Maori for many centuries, was and still is one of the most versatile plants in the world. ... Beer fermenting at a brewery. ... A pollinator is the agent that moves pollen from the male anthers of a flower to the female stigma of a flower to accomplish fertilization or syngamy of the female gamete in the ovule of the flower by the male gamete from the pollen grain. ... Species References: ITIS 26957 Kowhai is a small woody legume tree native to New Zealand. ... Binomial name Clianthus puniceus (G.Don) Sol. ... The beak—otherwise known as the bill or rostrum—is an external anatomical structure which serves as the mouth in some animals. ... Meat Ants harvest Leaf Hoppers for their honey dew. ...

Male Tui can be extremely territorial, chasing all other birds (large or small) from the area with loud flapping and sounds akin to "swearing". This is especially true of other Tui when possession of a favoured feeding tree is impinged. Birds will often erect their body feathers in order to appear larger in an attempt to intimidate a rival . The powered flight of Tui is quite loud as they have developed short wide wings, giving excellent manouverablity in the dense forest they prefer, but requiring rapid flapping. They can be seen to perform a breeding display of rising at speed in a vertical climb in clear air, before stalling and dropping into a powered dive, then repeating. Much of this behaviour is more notable during the breeding season of early spring; September/October.

Distribution and habitat

Tui perching on New Zealand flax

Tui are found through much of New Zealand, particularly the North Island, the west and south coasts of the South Island, Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands- where an endangered sub-species particular to these islands exists . Populations have declined considerably since European settlement, mainly because of habitat destruction but also from hunting and imported mammalian predators. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 301 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo taken by myself, Tom Rix. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 301 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo taken by myself, Tom Rix. ... Binomial name Phormium tenax New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax), known as Harakeke by New Zealand Maori for many centuries, was and still is one of the most versatile plants in the world. ... North Island The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. ... The South Island The South Island is one of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the North Island. ... A Rakiura beach Stewart Island/Rakiura is the third largest island of New Zealand. ... The Chatham Islands from space. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Subclasses Allotheria* Order Multituberculata (extinct) Order Volaticotheria (extinct) Order Palaeoryctoides (extinct) Order Triconodonta (extinct) Order Docodonta (extinct) Prototheria Order Monotremata Theria Infraclass Trituberculata (extinct) Infraclass Marsupialia Infraclass Eutheria The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals characterized by the production of milk in females for the nourishment of young, from... This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ...

Nonetheless, the species is considered secure and has made recoveries in some areas, particularly after removal of livestock has allowed vegetation to recover. Predation by introduced species remains a threat, particularly stoats, the Common Myna (which competes with Tui for food and sometimes takes eggs), and rats. Sheep are commonly bred as livestock. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into invasive species. ... Binomial name Mustela erminea Linnaeus, 1758 Range map The stoat (Mustela erminea) is a small mammal of the family Mustelidae. ... Binomial name Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766) The Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis, is a myna, a member of the starling family. ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... Species 50 species; see text *Several subfamilies of Muroids include animals called rats. ...

Tui prefer broadleaf forests below 1500 metres but will tolerate quite small remnant patches, regrowth, exotic plantations and well-vegetated suburbs. They are usually seen singly, in pairs, or in small family groups, but will congregate in large numbers at suitable food sources, often in company with Silvereyes, Bellbirds (another New Zealand honeyeater), or Kererū (native New Zealand pigeon). Generally when interspecific competition for the same food resources among New Zealand's three species of honeyeater occurs, there is a hierarchy which the Tui is at the top of, with bellbirds and stitchbirds successively subordinate to the species above them - they are thus frequently chased off by Tui at a food source such as a flowering flax plant. The metre (or meter, see spelling differences) is a measure of length. ... Binomial name Zosterops lateralis (Latham, 1802) The Silvereye, White-eye or Wax-eye (Zosterops lateralis) is a very small passerine bird native to Australia but also found in New Zealand. ... See also: New Zealand Bellbird Species See text. ... Binomial name Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae (Gmelin, 1789) The kererÅ« or New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae novaseelandiae (Gmelin)) is a bird endemic to New Zealand. ... Binomial name Notiomystis cincta (Du Bus de Gisignies, 1839) The Stitchbird, or Hihi (Notiomystis cincta) is a rare bird endemic to New Zealand. ... Binomial name Linum usitatissimum Linnaeus. ...

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 05 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ...

External links

• Department of Conservation fact sheet
• Kiwi Wildlife tours Sound gallery (MP3 link) Comparison can be made with the Bellbird song through this page.