Listen to the Tomtit
Recording by craig wilson · xeno-canto XC1059569
Tomtit
Māori name: Miromiro
Scientific name: Petroica macrocephala
Not Threatened
The tomtit is a small, bold forest bird with striking black and white plumage in males. Curious by nature, miromiro will often approach people in the bush, watching intently from nearby branches. They are insectivores, hunting through the forest floor and canopy for beetles, spiders, and caterpillars. The Coromandel population has benefited significantly from predator trapping.
Did you know?
Tomtits are so bold and inquisitive they were historically easy to catch by hand — early Māori sometimes kept them as pets. This fearlessness makes them especially vulnerable to introduced predators.
Threats
Ship rats are the tomtit's primary predator — females are especially vulnerable while incubating, as they alone sit on the nest and have limited escape options in shallow cavities. Stoats also pose a threat during mast years.