The fernbird is a warbler.  It is a warm brown shade above, with a paler shade below which is heavily streaked and spotted dark brown.  The forehead and crown are a chestnut brown with a white eye stripe.  It has a distinctive long frayed tail which is drooped during flight.  Both sexes and juveniles look alike.

Fernbirds are extremely secretive and often remain hidden in thick vegetation, creeping around like a mouse when they do venture out.  They prefer not to fly but when forced to their flight is weak and noisy and low to the ground.  Their main prey is spiders, caterpillars, flies, moths and beetles.  On islands they have been seen eating maggots and flies around dead penguins.

Most fernbirds stay in pairs or small groups all year and don't tend to stray far from their breeding site.  They can lay 2 - 3 clutches a year and both parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks.

The main call of the fernbird is a double call which consists of a low and a sharp metallic note 'uu-tick' either by the male on his own, or in duet with his mate, who only responds with the 'tick' part of the call.  A variety of other calls consist of 'tchip', 'tcheong' and 'zrup' notes.  Although the fernbird is a warbler it rarely has a melodic warble.

Fernbirds (13) were first released on Tiritiri Matangi in June/July 2001 as part of a 'Rescue Mission'.  Another 6 birds were translocated in May 2002, netted from the same motorway development site as the first 13.  The translocation was to continue but extreme weather has forced the operation to be postponed until the weather settles down.  Two banded males (part of the first release of 13) have paired with 2 non-banded females.  All birds released were banded so it is encouraging to see that they breed in their first year on Tiri, especially as how they were translocated midway through the breeding season. 

Photography by:  Simon Fordham ©

References: Heather, B.D.; Robertson, H.A. 2000 The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, Viking.