Chris Marsh kindly sent us a couple of photos of a rare black Fantail or Piwakawaka. Chris said:
The image is poor due to being taken in twilight and the bird constantly moving but we have a black fantail flitting about at our property in Emma Drive. I think these birds are quite scarce/rare.
When we check New Zealand Birds Online we learn that it is indeed rare:
There are two colour forms or ‘morphs’ of fantail, with the more common pied morph occurring throughout its range, and the black morph comprising up to 5% of the South Island population, and occasionally occurring in the North Island.
Many thanks Chris.
we’re lucky that they visit us often in Uxbridge Terrace…a beautiful bird
Usual residence: Waikawa