About the New Zealand Fantail
The New Zealand fantail is a small insectivorous bird, the only species of fantail in New Zealand. It has four subspecies: R. f. fuliginosa in the South Island, R. f. placabilis in the North Island, R. f. penita in the Chatham Islands, and the now-extinct R. f. cervina formerly on Lord Howe Island. It is also known by its Māori names, pīwakawaka, tīwakawaka or piwaiwaka, and the Chatham Island subspecies by the Moriori name tchitake; the common pied morph is also known as pied fantail, and the uncommon dark morph is also known as black fantail. The species has been considered by many to be conspecific as the grey fantail of Australia and New Caledonia; however, due to significant differences in its calls, many authorities now treat it as a separate species.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fantails (Rhipiduridae) |
| Species | Rhipidura fuliginosa |
| Species Codes | nezfan1, NZFA |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the New Zealand Fantail belong to?
The New Zealand Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) belongs to the Fantails family (Rhipiduridae), in the order Passeriformes.
How can I identify the New Zealand Fantail?
The New Zealand fantail is a small insectivorous bird, the only species of fantail in New Zealand. It has four subspecies: R. f. fuliginosa in the South Island, R. f. placabilis in the North Island, R. f. penita in the Chatham Islands, and the now-extinct R. f. cervina formerly on Lord Howe Island. ...
Where can I report a New Zealand Fantail sighting?
You can log sightings of New Zealand Fantail on eBird (ebird.org) using species code nezfan1, or on iNaturalist.