Shining cuckooPīpīwharauroa

Conservation status
Doing OK

Māori welcomed pīpīwharauroa with the proverb “Ka tangi te wharauroa, ko ngā karere a Mahuru,” which means “If the shining cuckoo cries, it is the messenger of spring". For grey warblers, spring may come with a surprise – cuckoos lay their eggs in warbler nests.

Shining cuckoo

Photo: Laurie Boyle