Tui Bird I

The toui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) is an endemic bird species of New Zealand and one of the largest representatives of the family of honeyeaters. Its name derives from "tui" from Maori, which is a sound imitation (onomatopoeia). The sound of the toei is the feature by which the species is best identified in New Zealand's natural forests. But its appearance is also striking: from a distance, it looks like a large black black blackbird with a white patch under its bill. Its noisy flight is the third striking feature.The toui is slightly larger than a blackbird. Both in flight and sitting, it does bear a clear resemblance to the blackbird. From a distance it may appear black, but closer up the adult has a dark brown back and flanks, multicoloured iridescent wings and tail, and white-edged feathers on the sides and back of the neck.
Notable are the white bells on the neck, which the male blows while singing.
Males and females are similar in appearance. Young birds are browner and still without white neck feathers.

One will usually observe only one or two individuals at a time, sometimes small family groups. Occasionally a larger group will form near suitable food sources. The toui prefers the same habitat as the grey-backed spectacled bird, the Maori honeyeater (also a New Zealand honeyeater) and the New Zealand fruit dove or kererū.