Is a Bushtit a titmouse?

What is a tomtit called in English?

Tomtit. The tomtit ( Petroica macrocephala) is a small passerine bird in the family Petroicidae, the Australian robins. It is endemic to the islands of New Zealand, ranging across the main islands as well as several of the outlying islands. It has several other English names as well.

Are there any similar species to the tomtit in New Zealand?

Similar species: there is no similar species to the tomtit in the North Island, South Island and Stewart Island forest and shrubland habitats; robins are larger, longer legged and lack white wingbars.

How many types of tomtits are there?

There are five subspecies of the tomtit, with each subspecies being restricted to one of the following islands or island groups: North Island, South Island, the Snares Islands, the Chatham Islands, and the Auckland Islands.

What does a Snares Island tomtit bird look like?

Adults of both sexes of Snares Island tomtit are black, juveniles being a duller black-brown. In the four other subspecies, adult males have a black head, upper chest and back, black wings with one white bar on each wing across the bases of the flight feathers, a black tail with some white on some outer feathers, and white underparts.

What does A Tomtit look like?

The tomtit is a small bird, about 13 cm long. They have large heads and short bills. The North Island and South Island subspecies of tomtits are smaller than their off-shore island relatives, weighing in at around 11 g. Birds from Snares Island can weigh almost twice as much as this (normally 20 g).

How much does A Tomtit bird weigh?

The North Island and South Island subspecies of tomtits are smaller than their off-shore island relatives, weighing in at around 11 g. Birds from Snares Island can weigh almost twice as much as this (normally 20 g).

What is the Māori name of the tomtit?

The Māori name of the North Island tomtit is miromiro, while the South Island tomtit is known as ngirungiru . The tomtit is a small (13 cm, 11 g) bird with a large head and a short bill. The male North Island subspecies has black head, back, wings (with a white wing-bar), and a white belly.

What is another name for a small bird?

Either form has been used to describe a number of small birds, but in England tomtit was most commonly used as an alternate name of the blue tit. The word tit is today used for a number of small birds, especially of the family Paridae. Originally, it was used for any small animal or object.

What is a tomtit called in New Zealand?

The Māori name of the North Island tomtit is miromiro, while the South Island tomtit is known as ngirungiru. Although the New Zealand tomtit belongs to the Australasian robin family of birds it is not a robin. The tomtit is a small bird, about 13 cm long. They have large heads and short bills.

Is a New Zealand Tomtit a Robin?

Although the New Zealand tomtit belongs to the Australasian robin family of birds it is not a robin. The tomtit is a small bird, about 13 cm long. They have large heads and short bills. The North Island and South Island subspecies of tomtits are smaller than their off-shore island relatives, weighing in at around 11 g.

Where did the name “tomtit” originate?

FOUND ONLY ON the islands of New Zealand, these delightful birds take after their name: “tomtit”, short for “tom titmouse”, dates back to the 16th century as a word used to describe a small animal or object.

What does a New Zealand tomtit bird look like?

The New Zealand tomtit looks similar to a robin. They are a small bird with a large head, a short bill and tail, and live in forest and scrub.

What kind of tomtits are in New Zealand?

New Zealand tomtit The New Zealand tomtit or kōmiromiro (Petroica macrocephala) has five subspecies – one on each of the North, South, Chatham, Snares and Auckland islands. They have a dark head, throat and back – black in males, brown in females – with white underparts.

What is the difference between a Robin and A Tomtit?

The New Zealand species belong to the Australian–New Guinean family Petroicidae. Robins and tomtits have large heads, short necks, round bodies and an upright stance. They have short bristles around the bill. Robins have long legs, and are larger than tomtits. All are insectivorous.

What is the average size of A Tomtit?

On average, tomtits measure 13 centimetres and weigh 11 grams. The female builds a bulky nest in a tree fork, and is fed by the male while she incubates the eggs – then both feed the chicks. They raise up to three broods a year.

What is the difference between a North Island robin and A Tomtit?

Robins and tomtits have large heads, short necks, round bodies and an upright stance. They have short bristles around the bill. Robins have long legs, and are larger than tomtits. All are insectivorous. The oldest known bird lived 16 years, but their life expectancy is three years. North Island robin

What is the size of a Snares Island tomtit?

The Snares Island subspecies is completely black. On average, tomtits measure 13 centimetres and weigh 11 grams. The female builds a bulky nest in a tree fork, and is fed by the male while she incubates the eggs – then both feed the chicks.

What does a female Auckland Island tomtit look like?

Adult female of Auckland Island tomtit is similar in colouration to male but with black areas being duller. Adult females of North, South and Chatham subspecies are brown over the head, back and wings (white/buff wingbar present), and fawn on the upper chest which fades to white on the belly.

What does a North Island tomtit bird look like?

The female North Island subspecies are a much duller, drab grayish/brown colour. The female tomtit can be especially confused with the North and South Island robins.

What is a New Zealand robin?

When using the name New Zealand robin you may be referring to: They are all New Zealand robins although, strictly speaking, the North Island robin is a completely different species from the other two subspecies. New Zealand robins are also closely tied genetically with the black robin (Petroica traversi) in the Chatham Islands and also the tomtit.

What does a Tui bird look like?

Tui have almost-black heads, underparts, wings and tails that have an iridescent blue and green sheen, especially on the head and wings. The upper back and flanks are dark reddish brown with a bronze sheen, the nape and sides of the neck have filamentous white feathers, and there are two unusual curled white feather tufts on the throat (poi).

Are there Tomtits on Chatham Island?

competition with the tiny black robin population. Tomtits were successfully re-introduced to Mangere in 1987–89. Tomtits were also have improved the habitat for other forest birds. However, none is Chatham Island. A predator-proof fence constructed on Pitt Island has provided an area of cat-free habitat in which tomtits have thrived.

How many Tomtits are there in New Zealand?

Tomtits are widespread and fairly common through the North and South Islands. The population was estimated to number about 1000 birds on the Snares Islands in 1987, less than 1000 birds on the Chatham Islands in 2001, and no estimate has been made of numbers on the Auckland Islands.

What do Tomtits live off?

Tomtits ( Petroica macrocephala) live off a variety of invertebrates, such as caterpillars, spiders, moths, and giant, rodent-sized insects called weta. They’re closely related to New Zealand’s Chatham Island black robin ( P. traversi ), and the two are thought to have evolved from an ancestor that flew over from Australia.

How big do Tomtits get?

The island subspecies of tomtits show a striking variation in body size, being considerably larger than their mainland relatives, a tendency known as the Foster’s rule or the island effect. Birds from the main islands weigh around 11g, compared with birds from Snares Island, which weigh in at 20 g.