Meet the Whio
The Whio, or blue duck, is found only in Aotearoa and is one of the rarest waterfowl in the world. Slate blue-grey with a chestnut-speckled breast and a striking yellow eye, it has a soft pale bill with a distinctive flap at the tip, and it’s perfectly at home among the white water of our mountain rivers.
Whio live in pairs along clear, fast-flowing streams, where they hold their stretch of river all year round. They are strong swimmers and feed by working their way through rapids, using that soft-tipped bill to scrape insect larvae from the rocks. Their name comes from the male’s high, whistling “whio” call, which rings out over the sound of rushing water and is answered by the female’s low, rattling growl. They were once found in rivers throughout the country, but predators and habitat loss have left only a few thousand. Today they are a treasured symbol of healthy waterways and the focus of a dedicated national recovery effort, and you’ll find them on the back of our ten-dollar note.
Handcrafted in Arrowtown by Jack Stobart, each Whio is individually shaped from white porcelain and carefully glazed in deep teal and river blue, finished with a soft grey bill and bright yellow eyes. Layered glazes flow and pool across the body, and a fine crackle runs through the surface, giving every piece its own character.
Each piece has a threaded bolt that can be set into the base, so it can be displayed however suits your space - perched on a post or ledge, or mounted onto an M6 rod pushed into a garden bed or pot plant.
Approx. dimensions 20(h) x 15(w) x 20(d) cm
PLEASE NOTE - This bird is new to our Cheeky Beaks range and we are still hand sculpting the duck so if ordering, please allow 1-2 weeks for us to get them created :)
Meet the Whio
The Whio, or blue duck, is found only in Aotearoa and is one of the rarest waterfowl in the world. Slate blue-grey with a chestnut-speckled breast and a striking yellow eye, it has a soft pale bill with a distinctive flap at the tip, and it’s perfectly at home among the white water of our mountain rivers.
Whio live in pairs along clear, fast-flowing streams, where they hold their stretch of river all year round. They are strong swimmers and feed by working their way through rapids, using that soft-tipped bill to scrape insect larvae from the rocks. Their name comes from the male’s high, whistling “whio” call, which rings out over the sound of rushing water and is answered by the female’s low, rattling growl. They were once found in rivers throughout the country, but predators and habitat loss have left only a few thousand. Today they are a treasured symbol of healthy waterways and the focus of a dedicated national recovery effort, and you’ll find them on the back of our ten-dollar note.
Handcrafted in Arrowtown by Jack Stobart, each Whio is individually shaped from white porcelain and carefully glazed in deep teal and river blue, finished with a soft grey bill and bright yellow eyes. Layered glazes flow and pool across the body, and a fine crackle runs through the surface, giving every piece its own character.
Each piece has a threaded bolt that can be set into the base, so it can be displayed however suits your space - perched on a post or ledge, or mounted onto an M6 rod pushed into a garden bed or pot plant.
Approx. dimensions 20(h) x 15(w) x 20(d) cm
PLEASE NOTE - This bird is new to our Cheeky Beaks range and we are still hand sculpting the duck so if ordering, please allow 1-2 weeks for us to get them created :)