Grey Warbler

About the Grey Warbler

The grey warbler (Gerygone igata), also known by its Māori name riroriro, is an insectivorous bird in the family Acanthizidae endemic to New Zealand. Internationally, ornithologists usually refer to it as the grey gerygone or New Zealand gerygone to avoid confusion with unrelated birds also known as warblers. It is also sometimes known as the rainbird. The specific name igata was given by French naturalists Jean René Constant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard, who claimed that this was the local name among the Māori inhabitants of Tasman Bay; this was likely a misunderstanding as no iwi are known to have a name resembling "igata" for the bird. Its natural habitat is forests, but also tends to occupy lower vegetation habitats. These insectivorous birds feed on insects living in shrubs, and often feed on the wing. They are found throughout New Zealand, as well as offshore islands where shrub exists. They also flourish in suburban areas where there is vegetation present.

The grey warbler has a long tail that is darker than its grey-brown body, with white tail end markings as well as a white tail underside. There is little sexual dimorphism between males and females, aside... Wikipedia →