A highly energetic insectivorous bird renowned for its acrobatic flying and distinctive, large tail, the New Zealand fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) gets its English name from its distinctive, broad, fan-like tail. In Māori, the bird is known as pīwakawaka (or tīwakawaka), which references its energetic, restless movements and playful flitting in the forest canopy. Its tail acts like the rudder of a boat, allowing it to twist, turn, and do aerial somersaults to catch insects mid-air. It also beats its wings up to 80 times per second, which lets them hover upside down underneath leaves to hunt for spiders and small insects.
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