This is bird note. The Tewy is one of New Zealand's most remarkable birds. It's considered an intelligent bird on a level with parrots.

And the foot-long toe is a stunner, feathered in black with a blue iridescent sheen. A distinctive white feather tuft puffs out of its neck

like an ascot. The Tui's down curved beak fits perfectly into native flowers where it feeds on nectar while spreading pollen from

flower to flower. Toe also eat native fruits and help disperse the seeds.

Toe aggressively defend their feeding territory of flowering trees from competing

nectar seekers. If a raptor threatens, Toe will fly quickly upward, then dive down on the unwelcome predator with whirring wings.

But the Toe is best known for its voice.

Each Toe's complex song is slightly different, a colourful mix of musical notes and offbeat sounds. And the most surprising thing about that voice, Tui are only one of a handful of birds in the world that can imitate human speech.

And they do it with a New Zealand accent.

Hi, do you appear?

Do you swim?

For Bird Note, I'm Mary McCann.