Description
The kōtukutuku, or tree fuchsia, holds a special place in Aotearoa’s forests; not just for its vibrant blossoms, but for the vital role it plays in sustaining native wildlife. As the largest fuchsia species in the world, it’s a magnet for nectar-feeding birds, especially the ever-busy korimako bellbird.
Each flower is like a tiny invitation, and the korimako rarely declines. With rapid wingbeats and melodic calls, these birds flit from bloom to bloom, sipping the sweet nectar tucked inside. But while the korimako thinks it’s simply enjoying a feast, the kōtukutuku has a clever strategy at play: pollination.
As the bellbird feeds, its face becomes dusted with vivid purple pollen—a telltale mask that reveals its indulgence. This pollen isn’t just decoration; it’s a passport. When the bird moves on to the next tree, it unknowingly transfers the pollen, helping fertilise new flowers and ensuring the kōtukutuku can produce its juicy, seed-filled fruits.
These fruits, in turn, become a feast for other native manu like tūī and kererū, continuing the cycle of nourishment and regeneration. It’s a quiet partnership, woven through time: the tree offers nectar, the bird offers mobility, and together they sustain the forest.
Next time you spot a korimako with a purple-stained face, you’re witnessing more than a messy eater; you’re seeing a pollinator in action, playing its part in one of nature’s most elegant exchanges.
Male korimako with a face full of pollen from the flowers of the Kōtukutuku tree, the largest fuchsia species in the world.
Camera Settings
- ƒ/8
- 1/400
- ISO 1600
- EV +0.7
- FL 500 mm
Location
Akatarawa Forest, Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Print Size & Specs
Bellbird pollen head
Limited Edition Photo ~ By Tony Stoddard
Medium Print:
Paper Size (A2) 420 x 594mm
Edition Number 15
*Unframed
Shipping
Please allow a minimum of 4 working days from printing to shipping. Photos are printed to order, signed, and numbered.
For print safety, larger prints will be shipped in a tube. Tracking details will be emailed as soon as your order is ready to ship.
Fine Art Print
Each limited-edition photo fine art print is signed and numbered.
Photos are archival pigment prints on Fine Art Smooth Cotton Rag 330gsm. Professionally printed by: Print Art – Fine Art Imaging
Helping to support our native birds
A portion of every print sold will be donated to The Nest Te Kōhanga, a wildlife hospital that’s dedicated to caring for New Zealand’s native species since 2009.
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