THE CUCKOO AND THE WARBLER … A true New Zealand Story

By Heather Hunt and Kennedy Warne.

Reviewed by Peter Hayden (natural history writer and documentary maker)

The Cuckoo and the Warbler is a new book for young people illustrated by Heather Hunt with story by Kennedy Warne. The greatest things about this book is that it has something for readers of all ages. It tells a very dramatic story that most of us either don’t know or only know bits of. Until now.

This is the tale of our native birds, the Shining Cuckoo … Pipiwharauroa and the Grey Warbler … Riroriro and what happens between them is full of drama, a little sadness, and the whole book is a joy to look at.

The story begins each spring when Shining Cuckoos travel from islands north of Australia to Aotearoa. Shining cuckoos are only the size of sparrows, yet, they fly on this amazingly long journey, mostly over water for thousands of kilometers to get here.

They travel all this distance to breed and raise babies… and this is where the drama really begins. Shining Cuckoos don’t make their own nests. Instead, they lay their eggs in the nests of the tiny Riroriro. Not only do they persuade Riroriro to look after their eggs, but also to continue on and raise the chick that’s much bigger than its ‘adoptive’ parents. The cuckoo chick is hard work for the tiny Grey Warblers. It’s always loud, demanding and hungry.

Cuckoos around the world are well known for not raising their own young and persuading other bird species to do it for them. They are called ‘brood parasites’ which means they ‘con’ another bird to brood or look after their chicks. But this story is very much about our cuckoo and our Grey Warbler and it is a wonderful story that is really dramatic and a bit sad in places…

This of course is a picture book, and Kennedy Warne’s fine words are a perfect accompaniment to Heather Hunt’s breathtaking illustrations. More than the words, the pictures bring us face to face with the birds, showing us the drama, the sadness, the cruelty and the wonder of the little bit of evolutionary magic that is at the heart of The Cuckoo and the Warbler .

I am surprised how they managed to tell such a big story in which we learn so much and feel so much in just over 30 pages. Yet, the words and illustrations do not feel crammed. On the contrary, it is spacious and well laid out. It is a tight, bright and memorable story.

It isn’t easy to tell a detailed natural history story in the confines of a children’s book format. But they have pulled it off in fine style. It is the test of a good book if there is something in it for everyone. The Cuckoo and the Warbler will be enjoyed by readers of all ages… even by very young children who want to listen to the story while they look at the many details in Heather’s wonderful illustrations. I’m sure this book will do well for Heather and Kennedy… it is a winner.

Signed copies of The Cuckoo and the Warbler can be ordered here