Pin-tailed Whydah-NZ

My photo of the Pin-tailed Whydah was taken on the island of Tiritiri Matangi. It is a nature reserve in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland in New... more

by Jennie Breeze

Title

Pin-tailed Whydah-NZ

Artist

Jennie Breeze

Medium

Photograph - Original Img_9513

Description

My photo of the Pin-tailed Whydah was taken on the island of Tiritiri Matangi. It is a nature reserve in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland in New Zealand. . From the moment you step onto the island to the moment you leave, you’ll be serenaded by birdsongs. The Pin Tailed Whyday is a small, gregarious songbird with a conspicuous pennant-like tail in breeding males. The glorious adult male is unmistakable with its long tail and bright reddish bill. It is found in a wide variety of open habitats including agricultural fields, parks, and gardens. The male pin-tailed whydah is territorial, and one male often has several females in his small group. He has an elaborate courtship flight display, which includes hovering over the female to display his tail. The song is given from a high perch, and consists of rapid squeaking and churring. It is a resident breeding bird in most of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. In Portugal it is established in the region around Aveiro, with observations occurring north and south of it. It has also been introduced to southern California, Puerto Rico, and Singapore. Loved that I had my second siting in amazing New Zealand. My first siting was in Huntington Beach, California. Lucky me.

Uploaded

February 27th, 2021