What it is
A Piwakawaka (Fantail) is a small bird that is endemic (only found in one place) to New Zealand.
What it looks like
A Piwakawaka looks like a small bird that has a brown chest and a darker brown body.
Its face is dark brown and white. A Fantail gets its name from the shape of its tail because it looks like a fan.
Its face is dark brown and white. A Fantail gets its name from the shape of its tail because it looks like a fan.
Where does it live
Fantails are found in the North Island, South Island and the Chatham Islands.
They can also be seen in forests and scrub. It does not migrate to other places.
Feeding Behaviour
Fantails eat by holding its food in their foot against a perch and then they repeatedly peck their food. To get their food they flush insects out of the bush and then catch
them. Fantails mainly eat small insects like moth, flies, beetles, and spiders. They often follow humans because they disturb insects for them.
them. Fantails mainly eat small insects like moth, flies, beetles, and spiders. They often follow humans because they disturb insects for them.
Reproduction
Fantails breed in, August, September, October, November, December, January, February and
March. Fantails build a cup-shaped nest near the water. In a good year, they will have up to four sets of
babies
March. Fantails build a cup-shaped nest near the water. In a good year, they will have up to four sets of
babies
Social Behaviour
In fine weather Fantails search for food in overhangs of the ground.
They can often be found associating with flocks of other forest species.
They can often be found associating with flocks of other forest species.
Threats
Fantails threats are Rats, Possums, Stoats, and other mammalian pests. The pests mainly go for the eggs and chicks.
Nathan. K
