Native Birds of New Zealand

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Anthornis melanura

Bellbird

The Bellbird, known as Korimako, is a medium-sized songbird with vibrant olive-green plumage and a metallic sheen.

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Sterna striata

Black-fronted tern

The Black-Fronted Tern is a small to medium-sized seabird with a slender body and long wings. It has white plumage on the underside, while the upperparts are pale grey.

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Leucocarbo onslowi

Chatham Island Shag

The Chatham Island Shag is a large seabird belonging to the cormorant family. It has a predominantly black plumage with a glossy appearance.

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Charadrius obscurus

Dotterel

The Dotterel, is a small shorebird that has a slender body, long legs, and a short, straight bill. The plumage of the adult birds is primarily greyish-brown, with a white underbelly.

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Bowdleria punctata

Fernbird

The Fernbird is a small bird native to New Zealand, known for its secretive nature and muted plumage. It has a plump body, measuring around 14 centimetres in length, and a short, straight bill.

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Gerygone igata

Grey Warbler

The Riroriro, or Grey Warbler, is a small passerine bird with a slender build. It has predominantly grey plumage on its upper parts, wings, and tail, with a lighter grey or whitish underside.

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Nestor meridionalis

Kākā

The Kākā has predominantly olive-brown feathers with touches of red on the underparts. The face and forehead are adorned with orange, red, and grey feathers. They have a strong beak and long tails.

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Strigops habroptila

Kākāpō

The Kākāpō is a large, flightless bird with moss-green feathers that provide excellent camouflage in the forest. Kākāpō have a round body shape, short wings, and a large beak.

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Cyanoramphus auriceps

Kākāriki

The Kākāriki, known as the New Zealand Parakeet, is a small to medium-sized parrot with bright and vibrant plumage. There are several species of Kākāriki, each with its unique colouration.

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Nestor notabilis

Kea

he Kea is a large species of parrot known for its striking plumage and intelligent behaviour. They have predominantly olive-green feathers, with bright orange feathers under their wings.

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Hemiphaga novaeseelandia

Kererū/New Zealand Pigeon

The Kererū, also known as the New Zealand Pigeon, have a plump body, white belly, and iridescent green or blue-green feathers on their back and wings.

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Todiramphus sanctus

Kingfisher

The Kingfisher is a small bird known for its vibrant colours and distinctive appearance. It has a striking turquoise-blue back, wings, and tail, with a white underbelly.

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Apteryx australis

Kiwi

‍The Kiwi is a flightless bird and an iconic symbol of New Zealand. It has a unique appearance with a round body, small wings, and no tail.

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Callaeas cinereus

Kōkako

The Kōkako has bluish-grey feathers, a long, elegant tail, and a dark mask around its eyes. The most striking feature is its vibrant blue wattles, which hang down from either side of its beak.

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Eudyptula minor

Little Penguin

Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin, standing about 30 centimetres tall and weighing around 1 kilogram. They have dark blue-grey plumage on their back and white plumage on their belly.

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Ninox novaeseelandiae

Morepork

The Ruru, or Morepork, is a small to medium-sized owl species. It has a compact and stocky body with mottled brown or grey-brown plumage, providing great camouflage against tree trunks and branches.

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Falco novaeseelandiae

New Zealand Falcon

The New Zealand Falcon, is a medium-sized raptor with a robust build and powerful wings. They have sharp, hooked beaks and strong, taloned feet.

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Xenicus gilviventris

New Zealand Rock Wren

The New Zealand Rock Wren has a short, slightly upturned beak and strong legs adapted for climbing and hopping among rocky terrain. The plumage of the Rock Wren is primarily brown or grey-brown.

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Circus approximans

Northern Harrier

The Northern Harrier, is a medium-sized raptor with long, broad wings and a long tail. Males have a greyish-brown colouration on their upper parts, a pale head, and a white rump.

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Tadorna variegata

Paradise Shelduck

The Putangitangi, or Paradise Shelduck, is a large, distinctive waterfowl species. Males and females have different plumage.

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Mohoua novaeseelandiae

Pipipi

The Pipipi is a small, insectivorous bird with a slender body and a slightly curved beak. It has a brownish colouration on its upper parts, with streaks of lighter brown and a pale underside.

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Anthus novaeseelandiae

Pipit

The New Zealand Pipit is a small, slender bird with a length of approximately 18 centimetres. It has a streaked brown plumage on the upper parts and a pale underside, which helps camouflage.

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Rhipidura fuliginosa

Pīwakawaka/Fantail

The Pīwakawaka, or Fantail, is a small insectivorous bird known for its distinctive fan-shaped tail and acrobatic flight. It has a compact body with a round head and a short, thin beak.

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Porphyrio melanotus

Pūkeko

The Pūkeko is a large bird with a deep blue body, a black head, and a red bill and frontal shield. The legs and feet are long and sturdy, adapted for walking and wading in wetland habitats.

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Acanthisitta chloris

Rifleman

The Rifleman, is one of the smallest bird species in New Zealand. It measures around 8 centimetres in length and weighs only 6 to 7 grams.

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Diomedea epomophora

Royal Albatross

The Royal Albatross is one of the largest seabird species, known for its impressive size and wingspan. They have a white body with black flight feathers on their wings and a pinkish bill.

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Philesturnus rufusater

Saddleback

The Saddleback, is a medium-sized passerine bird with a black head, throat, and upper body, while the lower body and underparts are rich chestnut in colour.

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Chrysococcyx lucidus

Shining Cuckoo

The Shining Cuckoo is a small bird with a slender body and a curved beak. It has a predominantly olive-green plumage with a metallic green or bronze iridescence on its upperparts.

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Thinornis novaeseelandiae

Shore Plover

The Shore Plover is a small bird with a stocky build, short legs, and a medium-length bill. Its plumage is mostly white, with a black band across the breast and a black cap on the head.

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Zosterops lateralis

Silvereye

The Silvereye is a small, agile bird with a plump body and a length of around 11 centimetres. It has a conspicuous white eye ring that stands out against its dark eye, which gives it its name.

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Porzana tabuensis

Spotless Crake

The Spotless Crake is a small, secretive bird native to New Zealand. It measures around 20 centimetres in length and has a compact body with short wings and a tail.

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Notiomystis cincta

Stitchbird

The male Stitchbird has striking plumage with a black head, back, and wings, while the belly and chest are bright yellow. The female is similar but with less vibrant colours.

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Porphyrio hochstetteri

Takahē

The Takahē is a large flightless bird and one of New Zealand's most iconic and rarest species. It has a robust build with blue-purple plumage on its head and back and a greenish-blue breast.

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Petroica macrocephala

Tomtit

The Tomtit is a small passerine bird with distinctive plumage and markings. It has a compact body, a round head, and a relatively large head compared to its body size.

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Petroica longipes

Toutouwai/North Island Robin

The North Island Robin is a small passerine bird with a predominantly dark grey or black plumage, with a white patch on the forehead and underparts. They have a slender black beak and dark legs.

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Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

Tūī

The Tūī is a medium-sized songbird that has a glossy plumage with iridescent colours, including shades of black, blue, green, and bronze with a distinctive white tuft of feathers, known as a "poi."

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Gallirallus australis

Wēkā

The Weka is a flightless bird that has a stout body, short wings, and a long, downward-curved bill. Wekas have dark brown or reddish-brown feathers with a mottled appearance.

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Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos

Whio/Blue Duck

The Blue Duck, is a unique, medium-sized species of duck with a stocky build, short neck, and short bill. Adults have a bluish-grey plumage while juveniles have a more mottled appearance.

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Mohoua albicilla

Whitehead

The Whitehead, is a small bird with a compact and robust body. It has a round head, a short beak, and a white head and throat, contrasting with the dark grey-black colouration of its upper parts.

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Ardea modesta

White Heron

The White Heron is a graceful and elegant bird with stunning white plumage. It has a long, slender neck, a sharp, pointed beak, and long legs.

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Megadyptes antipodes

Yellow-Eyed Penguin

The Yellow-eyed Penguin have a unique appearance with distinctive yellow eye stripes extending from the eyes.

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Mohoua ochrocephala

Yellowhead

The Mohua, or Yellowhead, is a small songbird with distinctive plumage.

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Rocky stream flowing through dense native forest in Fiordland