In the late afternoon we drove to Black Gully Reserve near Tapanui and did a short bush walk. While we paused on the track, a fantail came to visit and flitted about us (as fantails do), chirruping to us all the while. They flit constantly from side-to-side so my shots are far from ideal but good enough for you to see how cute they are! They do fan their tail out but usually when they’re in flight or more active than this. Tapanui, West Otago, New Zealand.
Click on any photo to enlarge.
Fantail or pīwakawaka (endemic to New Zealand)
~Rhipidura fuliginosa fuliginosa is the South Island sub-species.
Their little white eyebrows give them a lot of personality!
More Information
~from the Department of Conservation
(feature photo shows a fantail with its tail fanned out)
~from Forest and Bird (includes video showing young chicks being fed)
Text and photos by Liz; Exploring Colour (2021)
Exploring Colour 
Adorable small bird, Liz. It resembles a bit our chickadee.
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Always think ‘chickadee’ is such a neat name! Aha, I see the ‘mountain chickadee’ has a white eyebrow! ~for anyone interested this page has nice pics and info about various kinds of chickadees: https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/bird-species/all-about-chickadees/
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The bird at the top, the Black-capped Chickadee is the one I was thinking of and is our state bird. They are relatively tame and if one makes the pishing sound, I have to spell that carefully, one might land on your finger, especially if you have seed in your hand…or on your hat.
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Oh, and btw, it gets its name from the call it makes which is just like it sounds…chick-a-dee-dee-dee. 🙂
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How interesting Steve! We have a small native owl called a morepork for the same reason – when they’re in the vicinity at night that’s what you hear “more-pork” hahaha – it’s actually pretty funny to hear 😀
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The local pigs must be petrified. 🙂
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That’s a thought! 😀
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How fun, Liz. A spunky looking bird, those eyebrows give him a fun look of sass!
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They have this funny hyperactive constant flitting motion going on, and a lot of loud chirping. They can look quite demanding and bossy! But very lovable little things 😀
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You did better than I did. I saw a fantail one day but wasn’t able to get a picture of it.
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Thank you Steve .. fantails lead a keen photographer on a very merry chase 😀
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Adorable bird!
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You can’t help but love cute, cheeky little fantails!
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I love the cool-looking markings on this bird, Liz, and that tail is amazing. Bird photography can be fun and frustrating and I think you got to experience both of those aspects of it with this active bird.
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Fantails are personality+ and chatter, flit and dance all over the place, they never keep still! Of course everyone loves them 😀 but it’s incredibly difficult to get them in a photo! Apparently they hang around because they’re after the insects us humans disturb as we’re walking through the bush!
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Love the eyebrows!!! And the fan (on the government site) – wow!!!
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Thank you Chris! ~they’re the cutest wee birds, and in perpetual motion 😀
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Reblogged this on .
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Lovely gallery
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