Small songster voted New Zealand's favourite bird
29 Oct 2007
The grey warbler is New Zealand's bird of the year. A bird described as small and drab has beaten flashier favorites the fantail and the tui, considered to be the frontrunners, to be named New Zealand's bird of the year.
Forest and Bird Advocacy Manager Kevin Hackwell says the grey warbler was the surprising recipient of the title of New Zealand's best-loved bird and it was great to see more 'subtle charms' take top spot this time.
Small and dull-plumaged, grey warblers might rarely be noticed were it not for their tuneful singing. Yet, with the fantail and silvereye, they are one of New Zealand’s commonest native garden and bush birds, found almost throughout the country wherever there are trees and shrubs.
The results of the annual Forest and Bird poll for the Bird of the Year came after an Auckland radio presenter launched a PR campaign for the littlest contender. Graeme Hill's campaign sent the grey warbler from fifth place to first in the last days of the internet voting.
''People call grey warblers dull, but they're the subconscious sound of New Zealand,'' says Hill. ''And when it sings, the grey warbler puts in so much effort it literally shakes''.
Hill started campaigning for the small bird when the rather large wood pigeon was leading the vote, and called for votes for the warblers.
Found throughout New Zealand, the grey warbler is New Zealand's lightest bird, measuring 11cm in length and weighing just 6.5 grams - one-third the weight of a mouse.
The grey warbler's tiny size and grey feathers mean the grey warbler is heard more often than seen and its rising and falling song is often noted as a sign of the arrival of spring. Only the male birds sing this song, which served as a seasonal reminder to Maori to plant their crops.
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