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carterr — New Zealand Songbird - The Tui
Published: 2007-04-26 08:32:12 +0000 UTC; Views: 2133; Favourites: 67; Downloads: 0
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Description
Native to NZ, they have a beautiful song. I enjoy listening to the four that live in my tree in the afternoons. They are hard to photograph - they have a beautiful green coat which often turns out black in photos as they seem to absorb the light. This one was taken late afternoon so the light was right.TUI Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
Size: Male 32cm, female 29cm.
Status: Common.
Range: Throughout main islands and many off-shore and outlying islands.
Habitat: Native forest, particularly podocarp and broadleaf, and exotic vegetation adjacent to native forest.
Food: Nectar, fruit and insects.
Voice: Song resembles bellbird’s but is stronger and more resonant. Alarm call is a harsh, repeated “keer-keer”.
Breeding: November-January. Three to four eggs, white or pale pink with reddish brown specks or blotches.
General: A subspecies on the Chatham Islands is slightly larger. The tui is easy to attract into your garden, provided you have enough surrounding trees. In Auckland we planted a kowhai tree and some native flax specially to attract tuis.
Fully protected.
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Comments: 111
Hi carterr, I have finished the painting of the Tui if you would like to see it, it in my gallery. Thanks for letting me paint the Tui, I really had fun with it.
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Excellent stuff James - that is really superb. I'm very very impressed!
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Wow, I really love this photo. You have totally captured perfectly! Could I please have your permission to paint this photo? I paint with oils and would really like to paint this.
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You may. Please credit my photo, and I would love to see the finished art piece as well
Cheers
Robyn
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Thanks very much. I certainly will do
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That is a beautiful photo 
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Their song is beautiful
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That it is. So peacful to wake up to
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I wouldn't know about that though - completely deaf at the moment, but when I do have some hearing, the sound of the tui is absolutely incredible
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Thank you - they are one of my favourite birds - they have a lovely song too
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I would like to intend it to sing! a so beautiful bird must sing very well, indeed!
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Aww its been so long since i seen one - This is an awesome picture. Might go pick up a Kowhai tree at some stage just so i can Encourage them around my garden.
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Wow great shot! spent at least an hour sitting in the mud while hiding under the cover of tree branches to get a just one reasonable photo- and it wasnt so great either..
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They are difficult birds to photograph, not only becuase they are on the move constantly, but also because their feathers absorb the light, so it's hard to get the colours right
Cheers
Robyn
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tuis are always the best dressed in the forrest!
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They certainly are
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Beautiful....my favourite bird ever...i have one in my backyard that is my morning alarm clock. 6.30 without fail it starts warbling. Well done. I've tried to photograph them too, but they hide from me just to be cheeky!
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I have taken hundreds of photos of Tui's - and they NEVER turn out. They mvoe so fast they're often blurred, or the foliage of hte trees gets in the way. This is hte onnly one that has turned out well, and it's still not perfect
Cheers
Robyn
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Yes - Tui's are gorgeous birds - they have a beautiful song too
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Beautiful capture!!!
Id love to feature yr photos in my journal...yay for the Kiwis!
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LOL - go for it - let me know when you do. I haven't manged to get a decent kiwi pphoto though
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How beautiful! The plumage is gorgeous. I especially like the little white tuft on it's breast. Too bad I don't live in New Zealand, I wish I could hear it sing. :3
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Thank you - glad you like it. You can google Tui song - and you should be able to listen over the internet
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Yay for tuis! In the summer, we're always woken up early by the tuis that live in our front yard trees and sing their heads off all morning. Lol!
Have you ever read the book "Sil"? You should, it's pretty damn good and it's about tuis.
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Yay! Finally a Tui! Thank you so much, it brings back good memories...
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Glad to bring memories back for you
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Beautiful bird and wonderfully captured and thanks for providing the additional info
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Thank you - glad you like it. I've been listening to the four in my garden all afternoon
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This is a beautiful shot. I spent a wonderful 6 months travelling around New Zealand and the song of the Tui is one of my lasting memories
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Yes - I love their song - it's one of the things I miss when I go on holiday
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Hope you do this for a living because you are really good!
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LOL - thanks - no purely amateur - I don't think there's much money in photography thesse days
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thank you - glad you like it. I love listening to them
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I will have to see if I can find their song online someplace. You're welcome!
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Follow this . [link]
Scroll down to the Tui then you'll be able to hear their song
Cheers
Robyn
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Thanks so much!
I inadvertently unplugged my speakers, so I am deaf until I can get them plugged back in. I will do it when I finish my render so I don't mess it up, and listening to the Tui will be the first thing I do. Count on it.
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and let me know what you think
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I couldn't hear a thing! I saw pictures only. 
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Cheers
Robyn
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If you'll buy me an airline ticket, I'll be on your doorstep!
I intend to install some software in the next few days that will let me hear them.
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Great
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LOL Well, don't waste your money on the lotto. Someone else will get the money.
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