Tui

Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

Tui

Systematics

Order Passeriformes
FamilyMéliphagidés
GenusProsthemadera
Speciesnovaeseelandiae

Statut de conservation

LCPréoccupation mineure

Geographic range

Foreign names

Tui cravate-frisée,
Mielero tui,
papa-mel-azulado,
Tuihonigfresser,
tui,
Toei,
Tui,
tui,
Tuihonningeter,
medárik kazateľ,
tui zpěvný,
Præstefugl,
tui,
menjamel tui,
kędziornik,
Новозеландский туи,
エリマキミツスイ,
簇胸吸蜜鸟,
tui,
紐西蘭吸蜜鳥,

Nomenclature

Le nom scientifique Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae a été décrit par Gmelin, JF en 1788.

Sous-espèces (2) :

Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae (North, South, Stewart and satellites, Kermadec. ne of North I.. and Auckland is. (s of South I.; New Zealand))
Tui cravate-friséeDescripteur Gmelin, JF, 1788IUCN LC
Taille 27-32 cmPoids 105,8 g
Aile 147,8 mmBec 14,2 mmBec L×H 5,2×5,9 mmTarse 36,5 mmHWI 20,8 (17 ind.)
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae chathamensis (Chatham Is.. e of South I., New Zealand.)
Tui cravate-frisée (chathamensis)Descripteur Hartert, EJO, 1928

Identification

Unmissable! In nature, the tie (really two tufts of white feathers under the throat) stands out well from the totally dark plumage, appearing black at a distance. In fact, the plumage is of a very dark olive green with purple reflections on the head. Curious filamentous white feathers cover the neck. The remiges are black with beautiful bluish reflections. The eye is red, the legs bluish, the beak black. The two sexes are similar. The young have a duller plumage without white feathers under the throat or on the neck.

Voice song and call

play
pause

The song varies regionally. It is a suite of melodic phrases interspersed with various types of sounds, more or less grating. Both sexes sing and often do so in duet. It is also a perfect imitator of the other species living alongside it.

Habitat

Données complémentaires AVONET 2023

Habitat	forêt secondaire ; forêt
Densité	milieux denses
Mode de vie	diurne ; terrestre

Essentially the native forests but also the agricultural regions where we find Sephora or the New Zealand flax. Like the bellbird, I was able to spot them in the parks in the Auckland region.

Behaviour character trait

The species is typically regarded as sedentary, but it does perform more or less regular post-breeding movements. As such, Tuis disappear from Tiritiri Matangi Island after the breeding season, heading to the nearby large North Island.

Dietfeeding habits

Données complémentaires AVONET 2023

Niveau trophique	herbivore
Niche trophique	nectarivore
Niche de recherche	nectarivore par glanage
Alimentation	fruits et nectar

Tui mostly consumes nectar and honey to which it adds invertebrates, seeds and fruits depending on the season. It usually looks for food either alone or in pairs, primarily in the canopy or just below it. After the breeding season, large groups of Tui can be seen in places where food is abundant.

Reproduction nesting

Données complémentaires AVONET 2023

âge première reproduction	1,5 ans
Ponte	3 à 4 oeufs
Système reproducteur	monogamie (<5 % de polygynie)
Parade	parades surtout aériennes, non acrobatiques
Masse de l’oeuf	7,3 g

The beginning of reproduction coincides with the start of nectar production by native vegetation, particularly New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax).

Generally, the breeding season lasts from October to January. The male occasionally helps the female with constructing the nest which is a rough cup (with an outer diameter of up to 30 cm) made up of all sorts of vegetable debris; the nest is built in a bush or a tree between 1.5 and 24 m high. The female lays two to four eggs (sometimes five) which she incubates alone for just under two weeks. Both sexes feed the chicks which on average remain in the nest for 15 days, a period varying between 11 and 23 days depending on the location and weather conditions. If the female lays a second clutch, the male volunteers to look after the first brood alone.

Geographic range

Données complémentaires AVONET 2023

Migration	non migrateur ; sédentaire
Domaine biogéographique	Australien
Aire	125477 km²
Latitudes de reproduction	-50,9 à -29,2 °
Aire restreinte	non

Endemic to New Zealand, the Tui can be found in the three main islands, though it has been absent from much of the eastern half of the South Island.

Threats - protection

IUCN conservation status

Extinct

Threatened

Least
concern

Extinc
in the Wild

Near
threatened

Not
evaluated

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

The Tui seems unconcerned. However, its population has decreased throughout the 20th century, decrease likely due to various factors such as deforestation, introduction of predatory mammals, as well as competing birds such as the Blackbird, the Starling, or the Rainbow Lorikeet.

Phylogénie

Voici les 6 plus proches parents évolutifs de Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae, d'après l'arbre phylogénétique BirdTree (Jetz et al. 2012). L'âge indiqué (en millions d'années, Ma) correspond à l'époque où les deux lignées se sont séparées d'un ancêtre commun.

~17 Ma

Méliphage marbré

Pycnopygius cinereus

~17 Ma

Méliphage à tête rayée

Pycnopygius stictocephalus

~19 Ma

Myzomèle varié

Certhionyx variegatus

~25 Ma

Méliphage de Lewin

Meliphaga lewinii

~25 Ma

Méliphage marqué

Meliphaga notata

~25 Ma

Méliphage bouffant

Meliphaga aruensis

Explorer Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae sur l'arbre du vivant OneZoom

Illustration

Access to all images

Sources of information

IOC World Bird List (v15.1), Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2025-12-07.
The hand guide to the birds of New Zealand, Robertson Hugh et Heather Barrie
Vol 13- Handbook of the birds of the world, del Hoyo J., Elliott A. Christie D.
xeno-canto, Sharing bird sounds from around the world, Xeno-canto Foundation
Avibase - The World Bird Database, Lepage, D.

Other sources of interest

Birdlife — BirdLife International, BirdLife International
Xeno-Canto
IUCN Red List — IUCN Red List of Threatened species, IUCN
GBIF — GBIF / Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Wikidata — Wikidata, la base de connaissances libre, Wikimedia Foundation
Encyclopedia of Life — Encyclopedia of life, Encyclopedia of Life
NCBI Taxonomy — NCBI Taxonomy Database, National Center for Biotechnology Information
eBird — eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology et National Audubon Society
Birds of the World — Birds of the World, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology