This New Zealand Bird Song Clock is one of our most favourite items in the showroom.  Listening to New Zealand bird song each hour is an absolute delight.

The birdsong only sounds when there is daylight or high artificial light bulbs.  The clock runs off 3 x AA batteries (not included). 

The bird song you will hear is:

Saddleback/Tieke - a glossy black bird with a brown saddle and orange wattles.  It is a relative of the Kokako and the extinct Huia.  Not well known and rarely heard because of limited distribution.  But you will see lots of them on Tiritiri Matangi Island.  The chattering loud call is made by both sexes.

Fantail/ Piwakawaka - This well known little bird is common in the bush and has adjusted to urban environments.  The fantail shows little fear of humans often following walkers, harvesting disturbed flying insects.  Fantails build beautifully woven nests of fine grasses, moss, cobwebs, even hair.

Kokako - This moderately large, long legged bird is grey feathered and blue wattled in the North Island; orange wattled in the South Island.  Kokako are weak flyers, being more hoppers, climbers and gliders.  Often located by its loud call.  A rich variety of organ-like notes are melodically interwoven.

Robin/ Toutoutwai - this small insect eating bird lives in native bush, scrub and exotic forests, often feeding on the forest floor.  The NZ Robins are related to Fantails and Tomtits.  The Robins song is clear, melodic and strong.  Although not common, the birds are fearless of humans.

Bellbird/ Koromako - this olive green bird is smaller than a Tui, which its singing resembles.  Like the Tui, it is a nectar eater.  It is an energetic early morning singer, often singing in the rain.  In times past, hundreds of birds would chime in unison during the dawn chorus.  The call has an organ like quality and can be very melodic.  Bellbirds are increasing in numbers in areas that are being revegetated with native plants and nectar producing exotics.

Grey Warbler/ Riroriri - a small inconspicuous bird often noticed by its pleasant song.  The grey warbler has adapted to human environments so is widespread.  The nest is pear shaped with an entrance on the top side.  Grye Warblers have a recognisable long repetitive trill using few notes and ending abruptly.

Tui/ Parson bird - perhaps New Zealand's best known song bird.  The feathers may appear black or reflect metallic and iridescent greens, purples and blues.  Tuis have a tuft of white feathers on their throats, looking like a parson's collar.  They are noisy fliers and occasionally perform acrobatic flight, darting about at high speed and plunging with closed wings.  They seek nectar in native and exotic plants.  They sing a gorgeous, wide repertoire of chimes, musical rifts, wheezes and other sounds, some of which are pitched in a frequency beyond human hearing.

Kiwi - New Zealand's iconic flightless bird.  Kiwi have strong feathers, facial bristles, strong legs, and a well developed sense of smell via nostrils at the end of their long bills.  Noteworthy for their huge eggs which can weigh up to 25% of the adult birds weight.  Kiwi are secretive, nocturnal, rarely seen, but often heard.  Their call is a low pitched two syllable whistle - Ki-wi.  Sadly their population is declining but there are regional success stories such as here on the Tutukaka Coast, where groups take responsibility for pest eradication and protection of kiwi populations.

Morepork/ Ruru - A small owl with silent flight.  The morepork hunts mostly for a variety of insects and spiders, lizards, small birds, and vermin.  The Morepork claims its territory with the loud two syllable call that gives it its name, heard at night.

Stitchbird/ Hihi - stitchbirds only survive in sanctuaries.  These fast moving birds are brush tongued nectar eaters, like the bellbird and tui.  Their diet also includes insects and berries.  Their unusual call is a sharp clicking sound.

Red billed gull/ Tarapunga - these gulls are found along our coastline and in some inland waterways. 

Shining Cuckoo/ Pipiwharauroa - this small cuckoo has a banded chest and a metallic glinting topside.  This migratory visitor probably led Polynesians to New Zealand.  The spring arrival of Pipiwharauroa heralds kumera planting time.  The Shining Cuckoo has a distinctive call.  The first dozen or so notes are like a dog whistle that sounds to be getting closer, then a few downward sliding notes.