Description ³

Adults: They are variable from black with a white face and throat, to white throat and all the way down to the tail. In between variations include a mottled chest and belly. Black legs and feet, a brown eye and their face is yellowish, and a notably short yellow beak. When in breeding condition they develop a small crest on the head.
Juveniles: Initially are all black or have a white chest. As they develop the throat turns white.
Overall they look more compact than other similar species but with a disproportionally longer tail and short yellow beak.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Tony Wills, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Wills
2. (c) Tony Wills, all rights reserved, uploaded by Tony Wills
3. (c) Tony Wills, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNaturalist NZ taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Atlas of Living Australia
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• VertNet
• Xeno-canto

iNaturalist NZ Map