New Zealand Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala)

Other Names (World)
New Zealand Tomtit, Tomtit, New Zealand Tit, Pied Tit, Yellow-breasted Tit, South Island Tit (macrocephala), White-breasted Tit (toitoi), Chatham Island Tit (chathamensis), Auckland Island Tit (marrineri), Black Tit (dannefaerdi), Snares Tit (dannefaerdi)

Family
Petroicidae (Australasian Robins)

Size
13 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Gmelin, 1789)

Habitat
Temperate forest.

Range (Guide)

New Zealand (B).

Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (23)...)

Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala) [XC348777]
by David Welch from Chaslands, Clutha District, Otago, New Zealand (song)

Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala) [XC795082]
by Ken George from Waimiha, Ruapehu District Council, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand (call)

Subspecies
Forms a species group with Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang) and Norfolk Robin (Petroica multicolor). Relationship of nominate subspecies of Norfolk Robin (Petroica multicolor) with present species requires investigation. Has been proposed that subspecis should each be elevated to rank of species, for purpose of consistency with treatment accorded to mainland South Island Robin (Petroica australis) and its insular derivative Black Robin (Petroica traversi).

The following 5 subspecies are recognised:

toitoi (Lesson, R & Garnot, 1828) - North I and adjacent islands (Hen and Chickens, Little Barrier, Great Barrier, Kapiti), in northern New Zealand.
macrocephala (Gmelin, 1789) - South I, Stewart I and outlying islands (including D'Urville, Pickersgill, Resolution, Codfish and South Cape).
dannefaerdi (Rothschild, 1894) - Snares Is (Snares I, Broughton I). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Snares Tomtit (Petroica dannefaerdi).
marrineri (Mathews & Iredale, 1913) - Auckland Is (Enderby, Ewing, Rose, Ocean, Adams, Auckland).
chathamensis Fleming, CA, 1950 - Chatham Is (Pitt I, Rangatira I, Mangere I, occasionally also Little Mangere I).

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for New Zealand Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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