Males tend to be heavier than females in this species. male tūī are very aggressive, particularly to other males of their species; they will chase all other birds out of their territory with loud flapping and calling. tūī have even been known to mob and pursue larger predatory birds like harriers and magpies. their short, wide wings give them distinctly loud wingbeats that make their travel overhead recognizable to those looking for them. while most of the tūī’s diet consists of nectar, fruit and insects are also regularly consumed, and pollen and seeds are occasional additions to the diet as well. they are the main pollinators of flax in their region, as well as several other plants that rely on them to propagate; flax nectar sometimes ferments, leading to tūī appearing to fly ‘drunkenly’ after feeding. some flowers in the region have evolved alongside the tūī, their flowers now curved to accommodate the bird’s unique bill. tūī have a wide variety of calls and ways to communicate, but they’re also known for being adept at mimicry, like parrots; they can replicate complex human speech along with sounds like glass shattering or car alarms.
