RIRORIRO NOT MIGRATORY.

Northland Age, Volume 27, Issue 16, 5 August 1927, Page 4

RIRORIRO NOT MIGRATORY.

“Mine Maori” writes: In a paragraph in the Star the other day talking about the pipiwharauroa and the riroriro, a correspondent claimed that it was the latter bird that was migratory, and that h : s return ushered in the season we are all just now hoping won’t be long delayed. As a matter of fact, the riroriro does not leave us in the winter. The pipiwharauroi (or shiningback cucko) to give him hisjnkeha name), does seek a more genial clime, an I September is generally the month of h s- return. That charming little inhabitant of bush and garden, the riroriro, is with'us all the year round, and any day of the winter whan there is a bit of sunshine about I can hear his ghostly little piping in my garden, which is not ten minutes from Queen Street. Thousands of people have heard the riroriro, but probably not one in a thousand could identify him. He is very like the white-eye or blight-bird; a little smaller and rather greyer. Never still, he hops about t ie branches all the day, and twitters away in hi; mourntul way, leaving the song always up in. ihe air, and new r quite finishin it. Owing to his tunny little trick of moving his head from side to side while warbling, the sound is very puzzling to trac the tiny fellow being almost ventriloquial. His English name is grey warbler.