Birding in New Zealand was a delight. Although we are not confirmed "birders" at
home, we know the basics of bird identification and enjoyed trying to
identify the many new and different birds and songs that we encountered.
And it made for good introductions to conversations with many locals.
Our painstaking stalking and peering usually resulted in the addition
of a "common introduced lesser whatsit" onto our bird list. But we also
located a reasonable number of lessor-seen species and heard the confirmed
snuffling and racket of the very rarely seen native kiwi.
Of about 60 species we identified, 16 are endemic (breed naturally only
in New Zealand) and 6 are rare or uncommon. (locations in brackets are our
first sightings). For example, the world population of New Zealand Dotterels
is something like 14-1500. We must have seen a dozen at Opotiki lagoon, a known
nesting site. Rosalind also was first to point out a crested penguin, the the only
one that our guide conducting daily tours to the Gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers
had seen in that area for some time.
Bird List
The following is a list of the birds we saw (and the place where we first identified that bird in
brackets). Some birds are also fairly well-known locally by their Maori name. Where we determined
that, it is also listed.
The list and abundance categories follow their organization in The
Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand by Hugh Robertson and Barrie Heather,
published by Penguin Books. "N" indicates North Island, "S" indicates South
Island
Brown Kiwi - (Okarito S; Kohukohu and Kaihu N)- night calls only - uncommon endemic
Australasian Crested Grebe / Puteketeke (Lake Alexandrina, MacGregor L.) - uncommon native
Buller's Shearwaters (Cape Brett, BoI) - common endemic
White-faced Storm Petrel / Takahikare-moana (off Tiritiri Matangi, Hauraki Gulf) - common native
Blue Penquin / Korora (90 Mile Beach) - common native
Erect -crested Penquin (Cape Kidnappers) - locally common endemic (confirmed by guide; unusual in area)
Australasian Gannet / Takapu (Cape Kidnappers, Napier) - common native
Gannet colony, Cape Kidnappers |
Gannet colony, Cape Kidnappers |
Black Shag / Kawau / Great Coromorant (Kaikora) - common native
Pied Shag / Karuhiruhi (BoI) - locally common native
Little Black Shag (East Cape) - locally common native - no white cheek, dk grey bill
Heron / Cattle Egret?? (Marahu) - locally common Australian migrant
Black Swan - common Australian introduction
Canada Goose - common North American introduction
Feral Goose (espec. Masterton lagoon) - common European introduction
Paradise Shelduck / Putangitangi - common endemic - bright colored female, drab male
Mallard - abundant European introduction
Grey Duck / Parera (Orakei Korako nr Taupo) - common native
Australasian Shoveller / Kuruwhengi (Orakei Korako) common native
Grey Teal / Tete (Christchurch lagoon) - common native
NZ Scaup / Papango (Rotorua) - uncommon endemic
Australasian Harrier / Kahu (Crown Range Road) - abundant native - many scavanging road kills
NZ Falcon / Karearea (Diamond Lake nr Wanaka) - uncommon endemic - close-up photo
Pheasant - common European introduction
Peafowl (Morere, East Cape) - uncommon Asian introduction - call only, local confirmed
Wild Turkey - locally common European introduction - not shy like N. American counterpart
Chukor partridge (Burke's Pass, Tekapo Road) - locally common European introduction - tussock grass open range
California Quail (Marahu) - common North American introduction
Brown Quail (East Cape) - locally common Australian introduction
Weka (Cape Foulwind, Westport) - locally common endemic - reportedly "secretive" this one attacked our camera!
Weka - size of a chicken, but no coward; nests only in NZ |
Pukeko / Purple swamp hen (Rotorua park, Taraunga nr Whangaroa) - abundant native - photo
Pied Oystercatcher / Torea (Kaikora, Okarito lagoon) - abundant native
Variable Oystercatcher / Torea / Toreapango - (black phase Munroe Beach, Milford Sound) - uncommon endemic - photo
Spur-winged Plover (nr. Motoeka) - abundant native
Black Phase, Variable Oystercatcher; nests only in NZ |
Pied Stilt / Poaka (Marahu) - common native
Banded Dotterel (Opotiki lagoon nr East Cape) - abundant native - two pronounced chest bands
NZ Dotterel (Opotiki lagoon N) - uncommon endemic - photo (1450 left in world?)
Pacific Golden Plover (Opotiki lagoon) - common Arctic migrant
Lesser Knot / Huahou (Tapora, Maitai Bay, Norhland) - abundant Arctic migrant
Bar-tailed Godwit / Kuaka (Tapora, Opotiki lagoon) - abundant Arctic migrant
Arctic Skua (BoI) - common Arctic migrant
Black-backed Gull / Karoro - abundant native
Red-billed Gull / Tarapunga - abundant native
Black-billed Gull (Rotorua) - common endemic
White-fronted tern / Tara (Paekakariki) - abundant native - photo - white crown forehead (BoI)
Arctic Tern (BoI) - rare Arctic migrant - like w-fronted w/red legs; id'ed by BoI cruise guide
NZ Pigeon / Kereru / Kukupa / Parea (Munroe Beach walk; Huraku falls walk, Pahia) - common endemic
Feral Rock Pigeon - common European introduction
Kea (Homer Tunnel, Milford Sound) - locally common endemic - "Don't feed the kea!"
Kea, Milford Road |
Eastern Rosella (Tapora, Pauline's) - locally common Australian introduction
Morepork / Ruru owl (Russell)- common native - call only "more pork"
Kingfisher / Kotare (Christchurch lagoon, Colville Bay, Coromandel) - abundant native - like Canadian belted
Kingfisher except without the belt, but just as noisy.
Welcome Swallow (Haast R./Haast Pass) - abundant native
Rifleman / Titipounamu (Dart R) - locally common endemic - pointed out on Dart jet walk
Blackbird (Okarito) - abundant European introduction
Skylark (Taupo/Lake Alexandrina, Eglington flats, Milford Sound road) - common European introduction
NZ Pipit / Pihoihoi (Geraldine river bed, Haast R. mouth) id'ed Haast site by local - like skylark except
dark bill, tail jerks up and down, long white eyebrow
Fantail / Piwakawaka (Blue Pools nr Haast, Fox Glacier, Munroe Beach walk, Waiheke) - abundant native
S.I. Tomtit / Miromiro (N) / Ngiru-ngiru (S) (male Fox Glacier) - common endemic
Tui - common endemic - call varies by region, pronounced white throat tuft
Bellbird / Korimako / Makomako (Diamond Lake nr Wanaka) - common endemic - olive yellowish colour, pure ringing notes
Starling - abundant European introduction
Myna (Auckland, East Cape) - locally abundant Asian introduction
Australian Magpie - abundant Australian introduction, ("wordle berdle doodle derdle"
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