

Primary School Science Conservation 2020 Award
Date posted: 18-Dec-2020
Dylan Lewis Y7 from Mahurangi College, Warkworth, being presented with the ..
Supporters of Tiritiri Inc and Fullers 360 Science Conservation 2020 Award
Date posted: 18-Dec-2020
The NIWA Auckland City Science and Technology Fair winner of the Supporters of Tiritiri ..
2020 Conservation Week
Date posted: 12-Aug-2020
Meet the Takahē on Tiritiri Matangi Island
When: 1:30 pm, ..
AGM 2020
Date posted: 25-Jul-2020
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE TO WEDNESDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2020 due to Covid restrictions at t..
Ferry Resuming July 4th!
Date posted: 01-Jun-2020
Great News!!!
We have confirmation Fuller360 ferry service to Tiritiri Matangi wi..
The 2020 Photo Competition Winners
Date posted: 22-May-2020
Here are the winning and commended photos from this year's competition. Congratulations to the photo..
Celebrate the Takahe Art Competition
Date posted: 08-Apr-2020
Hi Tiri Kids,
It’s TakahÄ“ Awareness Month!
Everyone loves our takah..
COVID-19 Important Information
Date posted: 25-Mar-2020
The government has announced that New Zealand is now at alert level 2 for COVID-19. Th..
2019 Winner Primary School Supporters of Tiritiri and Fullers 360 Science Award is Ethan Raymond
Date posted: 11-Mar-2020
Ethan has helped the Enviro-Warriors in many ways such as planning, gard..
2019 Winner Y8-Y13 NIWA Supporters of Tiritiri and Fullers 360 Science Award is Abby Haezelwood
Date posted: 11-Mar-2020
Abby Haezelwood with her winning Science Exhibit on Plastic Beaches at the NIWA Taihoro Nuk..
Grey Warbler
Scientific name: |
Gerygone igata |
Maori Name: |
riroriro |
|
|
Conservation status |
Endemic. Not threatened |
Mainland status: |
Widespread and common |
Size: |
10cm, 6.5g |
Lifespan: |
5+ years |
Breeding: |
August – January |
Diet: |
Mainly invertebrates |
This tiny bird is grey-brown above and pale grey on the face, throat and breast and has an off-white belly and undertail. The darker tail is tipped white and the eye is red. The song is a distinctive long musical wavering trill.
The diet is mainly invertebrates. Spiders, caterpillars, flies, beetles and bugs are often taken by the bird hovering to pick them from plants. A few small fruits are also eaten.
Breeding takes place between August and January and pairs stay together year after year. The female takes up to 27 days to build the distinctive domed hanging nest with a small side entrance hole. It is made of rootlets, moss, lichen, leaves, bark, tree-fern scales and fibres, twigs, cobwebs, spider egg-cases, wool, hair and feathers, and is lined with a thick layer of feathers, downy seeds and tree-fern scales. The clutch of 2–5 white eggs with reddish-brown speckling is incubated by the female for 17–21 days. Both parents feed the chicks for the 15–19 day fledging period and for up to 35 days after the chicks leave the nest. The male does most of the later care of the first brood as the female prepares to lay a second clutch.
The grey warbler is the usual host to the shining cuckoo and they have been seen feeding shining cuckoo chicks on Tiri.
This bird is one of the few native passerines to have adapted to human modification of the landscape and is common in many forest, scrub, rural and city habitats.
Find out more about the grey warbler at New Zealand Birds Online.
Photography by: Simon Fordham © (left) and Max McRae © (right)
References: Heather, B.D.; Robertson, H.A. 2000 The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, Viking. Moon, G The Reed Field Guide to New Zealand Birds.