32 HOW TO IDENTIFY NEW ZEALAND BIRDS 
6.5 in. Fernbird or Common Utick (Bowdleria punctata). 
Forehead and crown rufous brown, throat and streak over 
eye white. Black streak on each feather. Upper parts dark 
brown, margined fulvous. Under parts fulvous white 
spotted black, tinged tawny on flanks and abdomen. Legs 
pale brown. Flight weak, not more than 20 yards before 
dropping to cover. In flight tail droops downward. Lively 
and alert movements, threading its way through reed beds, 
using tail for balancing. Call of two notes ‘‘Utick utick.’’ 
Hence name. Passeriformes. 
6.5 in. Pied Fantail (Rhipidura flabellifera). Head sooty 
black, throat and mark over eye white, tinged with grey. 
Upper parts dark olive brown, band of black round beak 
and upper part of breast. Under parts deep yellow tinged 
with cinnamon. Base of feathers lead colour. Legs blackish 
brown. Flight a series of aerial darts and evolutions, snap- 
ping up flies, returning usually to same spot. Haunts, bush 
clearing, homesteads, wooded banks of streams. Hops and 
flits, tail broadly expanded. Differs in colour from Black 
Fantail, sometimes interbreeds. Call of ‘‘Tweet,’’ clear 
whistle of two notes, occasional song. Passeriformes. 
6.5 in. Black Fantail (Rhipidura fulinginosa). Head sooty 
black, white spot behind ear. Upper parts black, tinged 
rusty brown. Under parts brown. Legs blackish brown. 
Rapid flight and darting, usually. from tree to tree. Haunts, 
same as Pied Fantail. Hops and flits. Found in South 
Island and North Island, but very rare in North. Con- 
Spicuous rusty black plumage. Song same as Pied Fantail. 
Passeriformes. 
6.5 in. Yellowhammer.(Hmberiza citrinella). Introduced. 
Upper parts reddish brown with dusky spots. Rump and tail 
coverts chestnut, white on outer tail feathers. Under parts 
yellow with some dark streaks. F. less bright. Legs light 
brown. Flight quick and undulating, alights abruptly with 
tail spread. Flocks settle on trees directly beneath them. 
Haunts, open fields country and hedgerows. Hops. Con- 
spicuous yellow head and chestnut rump. Short monotonous 
song of ‘‘A little bit of bread and no cheese.’’ Passeriformes. 
6.5 in. Cirl Bunting (EHmberiza cirlus). Introduced. 
Crown olive streaked with black, chin and throat black. 
Stripes above and below eye and gorget yellow. Upper 
parts brownish red with dusky spots. Rump olive green 
with dusky streaks. Breast olive grey. Abdomen dull 
yellow, stripes on flank chestnut. F. duller. Legs yellowish. 
Flight a long dip ending with a rise. Frequents cultivated 
districts. Local. Hops, occasionally-runs a few steps. Dis-. 
tinguished from Yellowhammer by black throat and olive 
