The Cute Tiny Tomtits With Oversized Heads On A Ball Of Yellow Feathers

Adults of both sexes of Snares Island tomtit are black, juveniles being a duller black-brown. In the four other subspecies, adult males have a black head, upper chest and back, black wings with one white bar on each wing across the bases of the flight feathers, a black tail with some white on some outer feathers, and white underparts. In the South, Chatham and Auckland Islands subspecies, males have some yellow and/or orange colouration on the lower chest and belly, being brightest at the sharp demarcation with the black on the upper chest. They have a white spot at the base of the upper mandible which can be enlarged during displays. Juvenile males have duller plumage, and have subtle streaking on head as a result of white shafts of black feathers. Adult female of Auckland Island tomtit is similar in colouration to male but with black areas being duller. Adult females of North, South and Chatham subspecies are brown over the head, back and wings (white/buff wingbar present), and fawn on the upper chest which fades to white on the belly. Juvenile females are similar, but with faint streaking on the head.