Story: Tītī − muttonbirding

Plucking a chick

A muttonbirder prepares to hand-pluck a tītī chick. Strong hands and patience are needed for this job.

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Private collection

by Phil Lyver

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How to cite this page

Philip Lyver, Jamie Newman and the Rakiura Tītī Islands Administering Body, Tītī − muttonbirding – Processing, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/9368/plucking-a-chick (accessed 26 June 2026).

Story by Philip Lyver, Jamie Newman and the Rakiura Tītī Islands Administering Body, published 2 March 2009.

Comments

Renata Sweeny
29 July 2010

When we were on the dinghy, it was very bumpy. Two minutes later, the engine puttered out - we were lucky we had a gas bottle. When we got there we had to go under trees and round a rock, thistles, ferns, and we were there.The house was red we had a little play and pack our bags and our sleeping bags. Our Uncle showed us how to kill a weka and a muttonbird. We had to bite the top of his head until our teeth touched it's brain, but I think it's easier to hit it on the head! I used a sling shot to kill a weka.