Tui: where and when to see them

The tūī is a conspicuous New Zealand honeyeater whose seemingly black plumage reveals blue, green and bronze iridescence in good light. Two curled white throat tufts provide its most familiar field mark. Native forest remains important, but flowering gardens and urban reserves also support it. Its varied voice combines clear musical notes with coughs, clicks and wheezes. By carrying pollen and swallowing fruit, tūī help connect the reproductive cycles of many native plants.

Size

27–32 cm length

Weight

60–150 g

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Least Concern

Tūī are agile, assertive birds that defend productive flowering trees against other nectar feeders. Their display flights can include steep climbs and dramatic descents, while ordinary movements between trees are fast and purposeful. Males deliver complex songs from exposed perches, sometimes incorporating copied sounds. Birds travel locally as different plants flower or fruit. During nesting, adults become more focused on animal food needed by their growing young. Tūī are notable for their varied and complex vocalizations, which include mimicry of other birds and even human speech. Their rapid, noisy flight with whirring wings is characteristic, especially when moving between trees or displaying. Males often perform aerial displays to attract mates, involving rapid climbs and swooping descents accompanied by calls.

• The throat tufts consist of curled white feathers.
• Its brush-tipped tongue helps collect nectar.
• Tūī can imitate other birds and human-associated sounds.
• Feeding visits can pollinate native trees as well as provide the bird with food.

Tūī are resident and observable throughout the year where suitable vegetation occurs. Spring and summer bring nesting activity and many flowering opportunities, but winter blooms can also attract birds. Check which trees are currently flowering rather than treating one month as universally best. While generally resident, local populations may undertake short-distance movements to exploit abundant food sources like mass flowering events or fruiting trees. Observing tūī during late winter and early spring is often rewarding as birds become more vocal and active in preparation for breeding. Pay attention to early blooming native plants such as kōwhai and flax for prime viewing opportunities.

They inhabit native forest, regenerating woodland, scrub, parks and gardens with dependable flowering or fruiting plants. Coastal forest and planted waterfront reserves can be suitable. Presence depends strongly on food trees and predator management, rather than proximity to the sea alone. They are a common and widespread species across all three main islands of New Zealand: North Island, South Island, and Stewart Island. Tūī are also found on the Auckland Islands, a subantarctic island group to the south of New Zealand. Their adaptability has allowed them to thrive in both pristine natural environments and modified urban landscapes.

Nectar is a major energy source, gathered with a brush-tipped tongue from native and introduced flowers. Fruit and insects also contribute substantially. Invertebrates are particularly important for chicks, while seasonal flowering patterns can concentrate adults at a few highly productive trees. Their diet shifts seasonally; insects and other invertebrates become a more significant component during breeding to support chick development. Tūī occasionally feed on honeydew secreted by scale insects on beech trees, particularly in South Island forests. They can sometimes be seen drinking from shallow water sources or dew-laden leaves.

Common name

Tui

Scientific name

Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

Animal group

Birds

Size

27–32 cm length

Weight

60–150 g

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Least Concern

Identification

The paired white throat tufts and dark iridescent plumage distinguish tūī from the smaller, olive-green New Zealand bellbird. The tūī's black plumage has a blue-green iridescent sheen that is most apparent in good light. A small, lacy white collar of feathers is visible on the hind neck, providing another distinguishing feature. They typically have a slightly hooked bill, adapted for probing flowers.