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Story: Ngā manu – birds

‘The bittern at rest’

Image
‘The bittern at rest’

This artwork of a matuku (bittern) was done by Richard Taylor around the mid-1800s. The title is 'The bittern at rest', but the image actually shows the bird trying to conceal itself. The matuku has a loud booming call – traditionally linked with people in mourning.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: E-296-q-055-4

by Richard Taylor

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Kelly Keane, Ngā manu – birds – Birds associated with death, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/12152/the-bittern-at-rest (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Kelly Keane, published 1 March 2009, updated 17 February 2015.