This April, beloved children’s entertainer Suzy Cato joins forces with enchanting folk duo Parrot in the Pocket to release Birdies in the Bush—a joyful new song that takes listeners on a magical stroll through Aotearoa’s native forests.
Celebrating the rich birdlife of Aotearoa, Birdies in the Bush is a gentle, melodic track introducing tamariki to manu such as the tūī, kākā and ruru through playful lyrics, simple te reo Māori, and acoustic folk melodies.
Performed by Suzy Cato and Parrot in the Pocket—aka Thomas Hamill and Miriam McCombe—the song is designed to delight young listeners and their whānau with catchy tunes and nature-inspired storytelling.
“The song is like a musical bushwalk,” says Suzy Cato. “You can almost hear the birds calling back as we sing. Parrot in the Pocket are amazing musicians—and big kids like me! This collaboration has been a joy.”
Parrot in the Pocket say the song is designed to feel like “a singalong in the forest.”
“As a new folk duet, collaborating with Suzy was an absolute delight for us—her musicality and instinct for what captures tamariki made the whole track shine,” says Thomas Hamill. “We wanted to create something that felt playful and organic. Suzy’s voice weaves through the melodies so naturally, bringing the birds—and the music—to life in such a joyful way.”
Birdies in the Bush has come to life onstage already at Wild Dunedin – NZ’s Festival of Nature, where Suzy performed the song alongside 25 members of the Dunedin Children's Choir at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Looking ahead, the trio plan to bring their music to even more audiences, with upcoming appearances at Auckland Play Week in October 2025, where they’ll perform Birdies in the Bush and debut their next single, Monsters in the Moana. They’re also set to take the stage at the Auckland Folk Festival in 2026.
These releases will form part of a small collaborative EP celebrating Aotearoa’s environment through music for Tamariki, blending folk storytelling, playful lyricism, and ecological themes in a uniquely local soundscape.
With an earworm of a chorus, rich imagery, and a focus on environmental appreciation, Birdies in the Bush invites tamariki to move, sing, listen and learn—all while celebrating Aotearoa’s taonga species.