The mating behaviour of Tūī.
The New Zealand endemic Tūī has an elaborate and noisy mating ritual. But not all is as it seems, and it turns out that size really does matter…
As soon as spring is upon us, NZ birds get busy finding a mate. The endemic Tūī is no exception, and their dating game is often very loud and noticeable as it's played out around us.
How male Tūī attract a mate.
To catch the eye of a female, the male Tūī has to work hard, as the competition is fierce. The female will have lots of males to choose from, so they use a number of flirty techniques:
The Kohab Bird Feeder was designed especially for Tūī.
Tūī aerial displays:
The male will soar through the air, showing off his agility to highlight his strength and good looks. They often climb to great heights before stalling and dropping into a powerful dive, swooping upwards again in a dramatic dance. Tūī also have the ability to change their wing feather positions to make a loud whirring noise as they pass by; this is a skill they can turn on and off to add to the drama of their display.
The best Tūī bird feeder
Tūī song:
Tūī are known for their vocal talents and use their songs to serenade potential partners. Each Tūī has their own unique song that is a mix of sweet tunes and guttural grunts, creating a sound that's hard to ignore. Much of their song is at a pitch that we humans can't hear, but the females can, and they will be deciding if the male is up to scratch based on the strength of their voice and the melody of their tunes.
Attract nectar-eating birds
Tūī feathers:
Tūī are known for their striking iridescent plumage, including metallic greens and purples, and the tufts of white feathers at their throat, known as poi. And just like a peacock, the male Tūī will parade its beauty to help woo a female. They will puff themselves up to appear bigger and stronger than their competition, and they will often spread their wings to help emphasise their size.
The Kohab Bird Feeder
How Female Tūī choose a mate.:
Although the male Tūī is working hard on showing off, it's ultimately up to the female to decide who they want to team up with for the breeding season. They will observe multiple males' performances, evaluating their displays and songs. Females are very selective, and rightly so. They want the strongest and healthiest male to father their chicks. This natural selection ensures that only the strongest and most capable males are the ones passing on their genes to the next generation.
Size really does matter…
Tūī are monogamous during the dating season, or so the males think. However, research by Massey University has found that 57% of Tūī chicks are sired by someone other than their mother's partner. The same study found that the size of the male Tūī poi feathers (white neck feathers) makes a difference as there is a direct correlation between the size of the poi feathers and the overall size of the male. It would seem that the bigger the poi, the less likely the female is to stray and reproduce with another male.
So it seems, for female Tūī, size really does matter.
