Sydney Porter■—Notes on New Zealand Birds



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soil. The striking black and white plumage renders it one of the most

conspicuous birds of the forest ; the plumage is loose and fluffy, the

tail is carried in an upright position and the wings lowered. A striking

feature is the large shining beady black eye. Just above the beak

are two spots of shining white feathers, which are at normal times

concealed but when displaying and fighting are exposed.


The Tit is common throughout the whole of the North Island and

especially so in the various island sanctuaries. In fact, one can never

walk through a patch of forest without seeing two or three pairs of

these interesting little birds. They are usually found only in pairs

as the birds seem to exercise territorial rights over certain given areas

and will not tolerate other birds of their species in that particular

part. This Tit is one of New Zealand's most useful birds, feeding solely

on small insects that infest the trees and lower vegetation in the forests.

I find that I have very few notes of this bird, though I was perhaps

more familiar with it than any other, I regret that I rather overlooked

it in seeking the rarer ones.


It would doubtless make a very charming cage-bird, and with a

good insectivorous food should present no difficulties in keeping.


The Whitehead (Mohoua albicilla)


This is exclusively a forest bird and is not found in any of the

cultivated districts. To find this beautiful and very distinct bird one

has to penetrate far from the beaten track into the “ back blocks ”

or into the large Government reserves and there one is sure to meet

with flocks of the inquisitive little Whiteheads. On hearing their

short sweet song, one has only to sit down, whistle a few notes in

imitation of it and in a few minutes the Whiteheads will be around

showing the utmost interest in the intruder.


Extremely active, as are all the small forest birds of New Zealand,

this species keeps in small companies and moves in a quick and business¬

like way through the forests searching minutely every cranny and

nook as it passes along for small insects upon which it mainly feeds,


. uttering all the time its short but very sweet song.


On the Little Barrier, these delightfully friendly little birds were

decidedly common, in fact one would think that they were the



