Fernbird (Bowdleria punctata)
Matata

Size: 18cm, 35gm

Description: Heavily speckled light brown bird, paler below. White stripe above eye. Long straggly frayed tail. Inquisitive but secretive. Flies poorly with drooped tail.

Habitat: Mainly wetland areas, particularly those with emergent bushes. Has been found in unexpected places! (at 1000m near the snow line in north Otago)

Status: Protected endemic. Numbers are still locally very strong on much of the mainland.

Breeding: August - March. 2 or 3 broods of 2-4 eggs. Incubated by both parents in a finely woven bowl shaped nest made from grasses lined with feathers.

Where to photograph: An extremely difficult bird to see, let alone photograph. I'd recommend trying Bushy Point Fernbirds

More bird info...