The Tui has an exceptional vocal range, from harsh squawks, clicks and whirrs to bell-like melodies. Tui mimic other birds and various sounds from their environment. Part of their range is beyond human hearing, so in the middle of a song they can seem to fall suddenly silent. Members of the honeyeater family, they are important pollinators of many native trees, flying large distances, especially during winter, for their favourite foods. They feed mainly on nectar from the flowers of native plants such as the kōwhai, pohutukawa and flax. Tui are dark iridescent green with purple and azure highlights. They have two tufted white feathers under the chin, and lacy white feathers covering the back and sides of the neck. Europeans first encountered the Tui in 1770 at Queen Charlotte Sound during Captain James Cook's first voyage to the South Island. The tui inspires affection and admiration as one of New Zealand's most popular native birds.