Tīrairaka | New Zealand fantail

Small bird with fanned tail on a flax leaf.

This little Tīrairaka | New Zealand fantail (Pīwakawaka) was flitting about down by lake Te Puna a te Ora (The Wellspring of Good Health) at the corner of Strathnaver Drive and Reay Mackay Grove.

Length: 16 cm; Weight: 8 g

Similar species: Willie wagtail

A small songbird with greyish head, white eyebrows, brown back and rump, cinnamon breast and belly, white and black bands across the upper breast, and a long black and white tail.

Easily seen and very friendly. Hard to get good photos of though as they flit around so swiftly.

Waikawa News @WaikawaNews