Fantail
The New Zealand fantail is a seasonal breeder, nesting from August to March in the North Island, September to January in the South Island and October to January on the Chatham Islands. They usually raise two or more broods per season. This reveals that the outer tail feathers that are light and the centre ones are dark. Some subspecies are found in a darker plumage, notably the black fantail morph seen in up to 25% of South Island birds and less than 1% of North Island birds (it is completely absent from the Chatham Islands). Image © Ormond Torr by Ormond Torr. The fantail is one of New Zealand’s best known birds, with its distinctive fanned tail and loud song, and particularly because it often approaches within a metre or two of people. Population. The New Zealand fantail is widespread and can be locally common, especially following the breeding season when small flocks form. However, local populations and those on small islands can disappear or reduce in numbers dramatically during prolonged cold and wet weather. The fantail is widespread throughout New Zealand and its offshore islands, including the Chatham Islands and Snares Islands. It is common in most regions of the country, except in the dry, open country of inland Marlborough and Central Otago, where frosts and snow falls are too harsh for it. Introduction. It is easily recognised by its long tail which opens to a fan. It has a small head and bill and has two colour forms, pied and melanistic or black. The pied birds are grey-brown with white and black bands. Fantail having a bath in a puddle created by a tree roo A common fantail found in the South Island of New Zealand, also in the North Island as subspecies Rhipidura fuliginosa placabilis, the Chatham Islands as Rhipidura fuliginosa penita and formerly (now extinct) the Lord Howe Island as Rhipidura fuliginosa cervina. This reveals that the outer tail feathers that are light and the centre ones are dark. Some subspecies are found in a darker plumage, notably the black fantail morph seen in up to 25% of South Island birds and less than 1% of North Island birds (it is completely absent from the Chatham Islands). Piwakawaka-Fantail. Originally from Australia, this tame little bird is one of the most abundant protected birds in New Zealand. They are very adaptable and can make their home in forests, beside rivers, and in parks and gardens.  The fantail is a common native bird which is widespread right through New Zealand and most of the outlying islands. There are 10 sub species of fantail; 3 of which are native to New Zealand – the North Island fantail (placabilis) the South Island fantail (fulginosa) and the Chatham Islands fantail (penitus). The other 7 species of fantail are distributed widely throughout the South Pacific and Australia Piwakawaka or Fantail. The fantail or Piwakawaka is a small native forest bird with a small head and bill and a long tail which opens to a fan, giving the bird its name. It has a grey head, white eyebrow and white and black band under the chin on the upper chest. Its tail is black and white. The scientific name for fantail is Rhipidura fuliginosa. This well named bird has been able to adapt itself very satisfactorily to an environment that has changed over the centuries. Also known as the pied fantail (pied morph only) or by its Maori name, Pīwakawaka or Tīwakawaka. The species is considered by many to be conspecific (the same) as the grey fantail of Australia and New Caledonia, however due to differences in its calls some authorities now treat it as a separate species. This reveals that the outer tail feathers that are light and the centre ones are dark. Some subspecies are found in a darker plumage, notably the black fantail morph seen in up to 25% of South Island birds and less than 1% of North Island birds (it is completely absent from the Chatham Islands).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_fantail http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/new-zealand-fantail http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/fantail-piwakawaka/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_fantail http://www.pukaha.org.nz/what-youll-see/forest-birds http://www.birdingwestcoast.co.nz/birding/Birdingdetail/index.cfm/species/20/ http://www.puketi.org.nz/kids/fantail.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_fantail
what is the common name for piwakawaka