Tomtit

The Tomtit, known as miromiro in the North Island and ngirungiru in the South Island, is a small, compact forest bird with a proportionally large head and short tail. Males show a crisp black head, back, and breast band contrasting with white or (in South Island and some other populations) pale yellow underparts and a small white spot above the bill, while females are duller olive-brown with buffy underparts.

Several distinct subspecies occur across New Zealand's main and outlying islands, differing somewhat in underpart color, from white-breasted North Island birds to yellow-tinged South Island and Snares Island forms. Despite its small size, the Tomtit is a confident, easily observed bird, often perched quietly on a low branch before sallying out after passing insects.

Key field marks

• Small size with a proportionally large head and short tail
• Male: black head, back, and breast band with white or pale yellow underparts, small white spot above the bill
• Female: duller olive-brown above, buffy below
• Compact, stocky shape compared to the more slender New Zealand Robin

Similar species

• New Zealand Robin is larger, longer-legged, and forages mainly on the ground with an upright stance, rather than the Tomtit's more compact, perch-and-sally style.
• New Zealand Fantail has a distinctly longer, fan-shaped tail constantly spread, unlike the Tomtit's short tail.

Range

Widespread across the North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and several outlying islands of New Zealand, with regional subspecies showing some plumage variation.

Habitat

Inhabits native forest and scrub of many types, from lowland broadleaf forest to subalpine scrub near the treeline.

Migration

Mostly sedentary, though some altitudinal movement to lower elevations may occur in winter.

Behavior

Often perches quietly and conspicuously on a low branch or stump, watching for prey before making short sallying flights to catch insects on the wing or on the ground.

Voice

A simple, clear, repeated whistled song from males, along with sharper contact calls.

Feeding

Feeds on insects and other small invertebrates, caught by sallying from a perch or gleaned directly from foliage, bark, and the ground.

Nesting

Builds a cup nest of moss, bark strips, and fine plant material in a tree cavity, crevice, or dense foliage; the female incubates the eggs, and both parents feed the chicks.