A pied fantail’s tail has two dark central feathers, and opens to reveal white feathers. Fantails have white eyebrows, white and black chest bands and a buff underside. The black phase fantail (a genetic variation of the same species) is sooty black all over apart from a white tuft over the ear. This fantail has just been bathing in a tiny pool.
Fantails are important in Māori tradition. When the demigod Māui tried to conquer death by entering the body of Hine-nui-te-pō, the goddess of death, a fantail laughed and woke her. She closed her legs and killed Māui – so the presence of a fantail is sometimes seen as an omen of death.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Nga Manu Images
Reference:
10048614
Photograph by David Mudge
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Photograph courtesy of the Department of Conservation.
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