List of birds of New Zealand facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This is a list of the amazing birds of New Zealand. You'll find their common English names first, and then their Māori names if they have one.

New Zealand has two main islands, the North Island and South Island. There's also Stewart Island and other smaller islands like the Chatham Islands, Kermadec Islands, and New Zealand Subantarctic Islands. This list focuses on birds found in these areas.

Birds on this list are usually found in New Zealand all the time, or they visit for summer or winter, or they migrate through. Some birds are marked as extinct, meaning they disappeared after people arrived in New Zealand. Most of these extinctions happened after Māori arrived but before Pākehā (European New Zealanders) came.

Here are some codes you'll see in the list:

(B) Breeding – This bird nests in New Zealand.
(I) Introduced – Humans brought this bird to New Zealand.
(X) Extinct – This bird no longer exists after humans arrived.
(ex) Extirpated – This bird is gone from New Zealand but still lives elsewhere.
(P) Present – This bird visits New Zealand regularly but doesn't nest here.
(V) Vagrant – This bird is rarely seen in New Zealand.

The bird names and groups mostly follow The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World.

Where New Zealand is located in the South Pacific Ocean.

Kiwi: New Zealand's Unique Flightless Birds
Moa: Giant Extinct Birds of New Zealand
- Lesser Moa: Smaller but Still Extinct
- Upland Moa: The Last to Disappear
Ducks, Geese, and Swans: Water Birds of New Zealand
Pheasants and Allies: Game Birds
Grebes: Diving Birds
Pigeons and Doves: Common Birds
Cuckoos: Known for Their Calls
Swifts: Birds of the Air
Adzebills: Extinct New Zealand Birds
Rails: Shy Birds of Wetlands
Stilts and Avocets: Long-Legged Waders
Oystercatchers: Shellfish Eaters
Plovers and Lapwings: Open Country Birds
Sandpipers and Allies: Shorebirds
Skuas: Strong Fliers of the Sea
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Coastal Birds
Tropicbirds: Tropical Ocean Birds
Penguins: Flightless Swimmers
Albatrosses: Giants of the Sky
Storm Petrels: Small Seabirds
Petrels and Shearwaters: Ocean Wanderers
Frigatebirds: Masters of Flight
Boobies and Gannets: Diving for Fish
Cormorants and Shags: Fish-Eating Divers
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Wading Birds
Ibises and Spoonbills: Long-Billed Birds
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Birds of Prey
True Owls: Night Hunters
Kingfishers: Brightly Colored Hunters
Falcons and Caracaras: Fast Hunters
Kea and Kākā: New Zealand Parrots
Kākāpō: The Owl Parrot
Cockatoos: Parrots with Crests
Old World Parrots: Colorful Birds
New Zealand Wrens: Tiny Endemic Birds
Honeyeaters: Nectar Lovers
Whiteheads: Unique New Zealand Birds
Old World Orioles: Colorful Songbirds
Fantails: Birds with Fanned Tails
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Smart Birds
New Zealand Wattlebirds: Unique Endemic Birds
Stitchbird: A Special Honeyeater-like Bird
Australasian Robins: Small Insect Eaters
Larks: Ground Birds with Songs
Swallows: Aerial Feeders
White-eyes: Birds with Eye Rings
Starlings: Gregarious Birds
Thrushes: Ground Feeders with Songs
Old World Sparrows: Small Seed-Eaters
Wagtails and Pipits: Ground-Feeding Insect Eaters
True Finches: Seed-Eating Songbirds
Old World Buntings: Seed-Eating Birds
Images for kids
See also

Kiwi: New Zealand's Unique Flightless Birds

Order: Apterygiformes Family: Apterygidae

Kiwi are special flightless birds that only live in New Zealand. They are about the size of a chicken and are the smallest of the group of birds called ratites, which includes ostriches and emus.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart
Southern brown kiwi (Māori: tokoeka) Apteryx australis		B	B
Okarito kiwi (Māori: rowi) Apteryx rowi		B
North Island brown kiwi Apteryx mantelli	B
Little spotted kiwi (Māori: kiwi pukupuku) Apteryx owenii	B	B
Great spotted kiwi (Māori: roroa) Apteryx haastii		B

Moa: Giant Extinct Birds of New Zealand

Order: Dinornithiformes Family: Dinornithidae

The giant moa (Dinornis) was a huge flightless bird that is now extinct. It was found only in New Zealand. There were two main types: the North Island giant moa and the South Island giant moa.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
North Island giant moa Dinornis novaezealandiae		X
South Island giant moa Dinornis robustus			X	X

South Island giant moa (extinct)

Lesser Moa: Smaller but Still Extinct

Order: Dinornithiformes Family: Emeidae

The lesser moa were a group of smaller moa species. About two-thirds of all moa species belonged to this family.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart
Bush moa Anomalopteryx didiformis	X	X
Eastern moa Emeus crassus		X
Broad-billed moa Euryapteryx curtus	X	X
Heavy-footed moa Pachyornis elephantopus		X	X
Mantell's moa Pachyornis geranoides	X
Crested moa Pachyornis australis		X

Upland Moa: The Last to Disappear

Order: Dinornithiformes Family: Megalapterygidae

The upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus) was another moa species unique to New Zealand. It was the last moa to become extinct, around 1445 CE. These birds lived mostly in mountain areas.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Upland moa Megalapteryx didinus			X

Ducks, Geese, and Swans: Water Birds of New Zealand

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

This family includes ducks, geese, and swans. They are all water birds with webbed feet and bills that help them find food in water. Their feathers are also great at shedding water.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell
Plumed whistling-duck Dendrocygna eytoni		V	V		V
Greylag goose Anser anser		I	I		I
Canada goose Branta canadensis	V	I	I		V		V
Cape Barren goose Cereopsis novahollandiae		V	V
North Island goose Cnemiornis gracilis		X
South Island goose Cnemiornis calcitrans			X
Mute swan Cygnus olor		I	I
Black swan Cygnus atratus		I	I		I
New Zealand swan (Māori: poūwa) Cygnus sumnerensis			X		X
Australian shelduck Tadorna tadornoides	V	V	V	V	V	V	V	V
Paradise shelduck (Māori: pūtangitangi) Tadorna variegata	V	B	B	B	V
Australian wood duck Chenonetta jubata			V			V
Finsch's duck Chenonetta finschi		X	X
Blue duck (Māori: whio) Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos		B	B
Australasian shoveler (Māori: kuruwhengi) Spatula rhynchotis		B	B	V	V	V	V
Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata		V	V
Pacific black duck or grey duck (Māori: pārera) Anas superciliosa	ex	B	B	V	V	ex	ex	ex
Chatham duck Anas chathamica					X
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos	I	I	I	I	I	I	I	I
Northern pintail Anas acuta			V
Grey teal (Māori: tētē) Anas gracilis		B	B	V	V	V	V	V
Chestnut teal Anas castanea		V	V
Auckland teal Anas aucklandica							B
Campbell teal Anas nesiotis								B
Brown teal (Māori: pāteke) Anas chlorotis		B	B	ex	ex
Scarlett's duck Malacorhynchus scarletti		X	X		X
Pink-eared duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus		V
Hardhead Aythya australis		V	V			V
New Zealand scaup (Māori: pāpango) Aythya novaeseelandiae		B	B	ex	ex
New Zealand musk duck Biziura delautouri		X	X
New Zealand merganser Mergus australis		X	X	X			X
Chatham merganser Mergus milleneri					X
New Zealand stiff-tailed duck Oxyura vantetsi		X	X

Pheasants and Allies: Game Birds

Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae

This family includes pheasants and similar birds. They usually live on the ground and have broad, short wings. Many of these birds are hunted for sport or raised for food.

Species	North I	South I
Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus	I	I
Brown quail Synoicus ypsilophorus	I
New Zealand quail (Māori: koreke) Coturnix novaezelandiae	X	X
Chukar partridge Alectoris chukar		I
Red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa	I	I
Red junglefowl Gallus gallus		I
Common pheasant Phasianus colchicus	I	I
Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo	I	I

Ring-necked pheasant (introduced)

Grebes: Diving Birds

Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-sized birds that dive in freshwater. They have special lobed toes that make them excellent swimmers and divers. However, their feet are set far back on their bodies, so they are clumsy on land.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart	Snares
Australasian grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae	B	P
Hoary-headed grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus	V	V	V	V
New Zealand grebe Poliocephalus rufopectus	B	V
Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus	V	B

Pigeons and Doves: Common Birds

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are birds with sturdy bodies, short necks, and thin bills.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland
Rock dove Columba livia	I	I	I	V	V	V
African collared dove Streptopelia roseogrisea	I	I
Spotted dove Streptopelia chinensis	I
Rose-crowned fruit dove Ptilinopus regina	V
Kererū or New Zealand pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae	B	B	B
Chatham pigeon (Māori: parea) Hemiphaga chathamensis				B

Cuckoos: Known for Their Calls

Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae

The cuckoo family includes birds of different sizes with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Some cuckoos are known for laying their eggs in other birds' nests.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland
Pacific long-tailed cuckoo (Māori: koekoeā) Urodynamis taitensis	P	B	B		P	P	P
Channel-billed cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae		V	V
Shining bronze-cuckoo (Māori: pīpīwharauroa) Chrysococcyx lucidus	P	B	B	B	B	P	P
Pallid cuckoo Cacomantis pallidus		V	V
Fan-tailed cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis		V	V
Oriental cuckoo Cuculus optatus	V	V	V	V		V

Swifts: Birds of the Air

Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds that spend most of their lives flying. They have very short legs and usually only land on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long, swept-back wings that look like a boomerang.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
White-throated needletail Hirandapus caudacutus	P	P	P	P	P	P
Pacific swift Apus pacificus		V	V		V		V

Adzebills: Extinct New Zealand Birds

Order: Gruiformes Family: Aptornithidae

The adzebills, from the genus Aptornis, were two types of birds that are now extinct. They were unique to New Zealand.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
North Island adzebill Aptornis otidiformis		X
South Island adzebill<Sbr />Aptornis defossor			X

North Island adzebill (extinct)

Rails: Shy Birds of Wetlands

Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae

This large family includes rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. They are usually shy birds that live in dense plants near lakes, swamps, or rivers. They have strong legs and long toes, which help them walk on soft ground.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Auckland	Campbell
Corn crake Crex crex		V
Auckland rail Lewinia muelleri						B
Weka Gallirallus australis		B	B	B	I
Buff-banded rail Gallirallus philippensis		B	B	B
Chatham rail Cabalus modestus					X
Dieffenbach's rail Hypotaenidia dieffenbachii					X
Snipe-rail Capellirallus karamu		X
Hawkins's rail Diaphorapteryx hawkinsi					X
Black-tailed nativehen Tribonyx ventralis		V	V
Hodgens' waterhen Tribonyx hodgenorum		X	X
Australian crake Porzana fluminea		V
Eurasian moorhen Gallinula chloropus			V
Dusky moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa			V
New Zealand coot Fulica prisca		X	X
Eurasian coot Fulica atra		B	B
Chatham coot Fulica chathamensis					X
North Island takahē Porphyrio mantelli		X
South Island takahē Porphyrio hochstetteri			B
Australasian swamphen or pūkeko (Māori: pūkeko) Porphyrio melanotus	I	I	I	I	I		V
Marsh crake Zapornia pusilla		B	B	B	B
Spotless crake Zapornia tabuensis	B	B	B		ex

Stilts and Avocets: Long-Legged Waders

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae

This family includes avocets and stilts. Avocets have long, upward-curved bills, while stilts have very long legs and thin, straight bills. They are all large wading birds.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart
Pied stilt (Māori: poaka) Himantopus leucocephalus	B	B	B
Black stilt (Māori: kakī) Himantopus novaezelandiae	P	B
Red-necked avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae	V	V

Black stilt
Pied stilt

Oystercatchers: Shellfish Eaters

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae

Oystercatchers are large, easy-to-spot birds that make a lot of noise. They have strong bills that they use to break open or pry apart molluscs like oysters.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell
South Island oystercatcher (Māori: tōrea) Haematopus finschi	V	P	B	P	V	V	V	V
Chatham oystercatcher Haematopus chathamensis					B
Variable oystercatcher (Māori: tōrea pango) Haematopus unicolor		B	B	B

Plovers and Lapwings: Open Country Birds

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae

This family includes plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies and short, thick necks. They live in open areas, often near water.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes
Grey plover Pluvialis squatarola	V	V	V		V
American golden plover Pluvialis dominica		V
Pacific golden plover Pluvialis fulva	P	P	P	P	P		V
Masked lapwing or spur-wing plover Vanellus miles	V	B	B	B	B	V	V	V	V
New Zealand dotterel (Māori: tūturiwhatu, pukunui, kūkuruatu) Charadrius obscurus		B	B	P
Lesser sand plover Charadrius mongolus		P	P		V
Greater sand plover Charadrius leschenaulti		P	P
Double-banded plover Charadrius bicinctus	V	B	B	B	B		B	P
Red-capped plover Charadrius ruficapillus		V	V
Common ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula		V
Semipalmated plover Charadrius semipalmatus		V
Oriental plover Charadrius veredus	V	V	V		V
Red-kneed dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus		V
Shore plover (Māori: tuturuatu) Thinornis novaeseelandiae		B	B	B	B
Black-fronted dotterel Elseyornis melanops		B	B
Wrybill (Māori: ngutu parore) Anarhynchus frontalis		P	B

Sandpipers and Allies: Shorebirds

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae

This is a large group of small to medium-sized shorebirds. It includes sandpipers, curlews, godwits, and snipes. Most of these birds eat small bugs from mud or soil. They have different leg and bill lengths, which lets many species feed in the same area without competing for food.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes
Upland sandpiper Bartramia longicauda		V
Bristle-thighed curlew Numenius tahitiensis	V
Eurasian whimbrel Numenius phaeopus	V	P	P		V
Little curlew Numenius minutus		P	P
Far Eastern curlew Numenius madagascarensis	V	P	P	V	V			V
Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica		P	P
Black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa		P	P		P		V
Hudsonian godwit Limosa haemastica		P	P		P			V
Ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres	V	P	P	P	P	V	P	V	V
Great knot Calidris tenuirostris		P	P
Red knot (Māori: huahou) Calidris canutus	V	P	P		P		V	V
Ruff Calidris pugnax		V
Broad-billed sandpiper Calidris falcinellus		V	V
Sharp-tailed sandpiper Calidris acuminata	V	P	P	P	P	V	V
Stilt sandpiper Calidris himantopus			V
Curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginea		P	P		V		V
Long-toed stint Calidris subminuta			V
Red-necked stint Calidris ruficollis		P	P		V		V
Sanderling Calidris alba		P	P		V
Dunlin Calidris alpina		V
Baird's sandpiper Calidris bairdii		V
Little stint Calidris minuta			V
Least sandpiper Calidris minutilla		V
White-rumped sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis		V
Buff-breasted sandpiper Calidris subruficollis		V
Pectoral sandpiper Calidris melanotos		P	P		V
Western sandpiper Calidris mauri		V	V
Asian dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus		V	V
North Island snipe Coenocorypha barrierensis		X
South Island snipe Coenocorypha iredalei			X	X
Chatham snipe Coenocorypha pusilla					B
Forbes's snipe Coenocorypha chathamica					X
Snares snipe Coenocorypha huegeli						B
Subantarctic snipe Coenocorypha aucklandica							B	B	B
Latham's snipe Gallinago hardwickii		V	V	V		V
Terek sandpiper Xenus cinereus		V	V
Wilson's phalarope Phalaropus tricolor		V	V
Red-necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus		V	V
Red phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius		V	V
Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos		V	V	V
Grey-tailed tattler Tringa brevipes	V	P	P		V	V	V
Wandering tattler Tringa incana	V	P	P		V		V
Common greenshank Tringa nebularia		P	P		V	V		V
Lesser yellowlegs Tringa flavipes		V	V		V
Marsh sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis		P	P		P

Skuas: Strong Fliers of the Sea

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae

Skuas are medium to large birds, often grey or brown. They look like big, dark gulls but have a fleshy area above their upper bill. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
South polar skua Stercorarius maccormicki	V	V	V	V	V	V	V	V	V	V
Brown skua Stercorarius antarcticus	P	P	B	B	B	B	B	B	B	P
Pomarine jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus		P	P		P
Parasitic jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus	V	P	P		P				V
Long-tailed jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus		P	P		P

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Coastal Birds

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

This family includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. They are medium to large seabirds, usually grey or white with black markings. They have strong bills and webbed feet.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Black-billed gull Chroicocephalus bulleri		B	B
Silver gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae		B	B	B	B	B	B	B
Laughing gull Leucophaeus atricilla		V
Franklin's gull Leucophaeus pipixcan	V	V	V
Pacific gull Larus pacificus		V
Kelp gull (Māori: karoro} Larus dominicanus	V	B	B	B	B	B	B	B	B	B
Brown noddy Anous stolidus	B	V
Black noddy Anous minutus	B	V
Grey noddy Anous albivitta	B	P	P
Blue noddy Anous ceruleus	P	V	V
White tern Gygis alba	B	V	V
Sooty tern Onychoprion fuscatus	B	V
Spectacled tern Onychoprion lunatus		V
Bridled tern Onychoprion anaethetus			V
Little tern Sternula albifrons	V	P	P		V
Fairy tern Sternula nereis		B	ex
Gull-billed tern Gelochelidon nilotica		P	P
Caspian tern (Māori: taranui) Hydroprogne caspia	V	P	P		V
Black tern Chlidonias niger		V
White-winged tern Chlidonias leucopterus		P	P
Whiskered tern Chlidonias hybrida		V	V
Black-fronted tern (Māori: tarapiroe) Chlidonias albostriatus		P	B
White-fronted tern Sterna striata		B	B	B	B	B	B
Black-naped tern Sterna sumatrana		V
Common tern Sterna hirundo		P	P
Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea		V	V	V	V	V	V	V	V
Antarctic tern Sterna vittata		V	P	B	V	B	B	B	B	B
Greater crested tern Thalasseus bergii	V	V	V

Tropicbirds: Tropical Ocean Birds

Order: Phaethontiformes Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are thin white birds that live in tropical oceans. They have very long tail feathers in the middle. Their long wings and heads have black markings.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
White-tailed tropicbird Phaethon lepturus		V
Red-tailed tropicbird (Māori: amokura) Phaethon rubricauda	B	P

Red-tailed tropicbird

Penguins: Flightless Swimmers

Order: Sphenisciformes Family: Spheniscidae

Penguins are a group of water birds that cannot fly. They live mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. Most penguins eat krill, fish, and squid that they catch while swimming underwater.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
King penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus		V	V	V	V	V	V	V
Emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri	V	V
Adélie penguin Pygoscelis adeliae		V
Chinstrap penguin Pygoscelis antarcticus		V					V	V
Gentoo penguin Pygoscelis papua		V			V		V	V
Little penguin (Māori: kororā) Eudyptula minor	B	B	B	B	V
Australian little penguin Eudyptula novaehollandiae		I
Yellow-eyed penguin (Māori: hoiho) Megadyptes antipodes	V	I	I	ex	V	B	B
Waitaha penguin Megadyptes waitaha		X	X
Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus	V	V
Fiordland penguin (Māori: tawaki, pokotiwha) Eudyptes pachyrhynchus	V	B	B		V	V	V
Snares penguin Eudyptes robustus	V	V	V	V	B	V	V	V
Erect-crested penguin Eudyptes sclateri	V	V	V	V	V	V	V	B	B
Southern rockhopper penguin Eudyptes chrysocome					V
Northern rockhopper penguin Eudyptes moseleyi	V			V
Royal penguin Eudyptes schlegeli	V	V		V	V		V	V
Macaroni penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus					V		V
Chatham penguin Eudyptes warhami				X

Albatrosses: Giants of the Sky

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Diomedeidae

Albatrosses are a family of very large seabirds found in the Southern and North Pacific Oceans. The biggest ones are among the largest flying birds in the world.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Indian yellow-nosed albatross Thalassarche carteri	P	P	P		P
Grey-headed albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	B	P	P
Buller's albatross Thalassarche bulleri	P	P	B	P	B	B	P	P	P	P
Shy albatross Thalassarche cauta	P	P	P	P	B	P	B	P	B	P
Salvin's albatross Thalassarche salvini	P	P	P	P	P	B	P	P	P	B
Chatham albatross Thalassarche eremita	P	P	P	P	B	P	P	P	P
Black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophris	P	P	P	P	P	B	P	B	B	P
Sooty albatross Phoebetria fusca					V		V	V	V
Light-mantled albatross Phoebetria palpebrata		P	P	P	P	P	B	B	B	P
Southern royal albatross Diomedea epomophora			B				B	B
Northern royal albatross Diomedea sanfordi			B		B		B
Wandering albatross Diomedea exulans	P
Laysan albatross Phoebastria immutabilis		V
Black-footed albatross Phoebastria nigripes			V

Storm Petrels: Small Seabirds

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Oceanitidae

The southern storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds. They are related to petrels and eat tiny crustaceans and small fish from the ocean surface, often while hovering. Their flight can be fluttering, almost like a bat.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Wilson's storm petrel Oceanites oceanicus	P
Grey-backed storm petrel Garrodia nereis		P	P	P	B	P	B	P	B	P
White-faced storm petrel Pelagodroma marina	B	B	B	B	B	P	B	P	P	P
White-bellied storm petrel Fregetta grallaria	B	V
New Zealand storm petrel Fregetta maoriana		B
Black-bellied storm petrel Fregetta tropica	P	P	P	P	P	P	B	P	B	B

White-faced storm-petrel
Grey-backed storm-petrel

Petrels and Shearwaters: Ocean Wanderers

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae

This group includes many medium-sized "true petrels." They have nostrils that are joined together and a long outer flight feather.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Southern giant petrel Macronectes giganteus	P
Northern giant petrel Macronectes halli		P	P	P	B	P	B	B	B
Northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis						V
Southern fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides	P
Antarctic petrel Thalassoica antarctica	V
Cape petrel Daption capense		P	P	P	B	B	B	B	B	B
Snow petrel Pagodroma nivea			V
Kerguelen petrel Aphrodroma brevirostris		P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Great-winged petrel Pterodroma macroptera		P	P
Grey-faced petrel Pterodroma gouldi	P	B	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Kermadec petrel Pterodroma neglecta	B	V			V
Magenta petrel Pterodroma magentae					B
Herald petrel Pterodroma heraldica	V
Providence petrel<Sbr />Pterodroma solandri	V	V					V
Soft-plumaged petrel Pterodroma mollis		P	P	P	B	P	P	P	B	P
White-headed petrel Pterodroma lessonii		P	P	P	P	P	B	B?	B	P
Mottled petrel Pterodroma inexpectata	P	P	B	B	P	B	P	P	P	P
Juan Fernández petrel Pterodroma externa	V	V	V		V
White-necked petrel Pterodroma cervicalis	B	P	P	P
Black-winged petrel Pterodroma nigripennis	B	B	P		B		P	P	P	P
Chatham petrel Pterodroma axillaris					B
Cook's petrel Pterodroma cookii	P	B	P	B	P	P	P	P	P	P
Gould's petrel Pterodroma leucoptera		P	V
Collared petrel<Sbr />Pterodroma brevipes		V
Stejneger's petrel Pterodroma longirostris	V	V
Pycroft's petrel Pterodroma pycrofti	V	B			V
Phoenix petrel Pterodroma alba	V
Imber's petrel Pterodroma imberi					X
Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Blue petrel Halobaena caerulea	P
Fairy prion Pachyptila turtur	P	B	B	B	B	B	B	B	B	P
Broad-billed prion<Sbr />Pachyptila vittata	P	P	B	B	B	B	P	P	P	P
Salvin's prion Pachyptila salvini	P
Antarctic prion Pachyptila desolata	P	P	P	P	P	P	B	B	P	P
Slender-billed prion Pachyptila belcheri	P
Fulmar prion Pachyptila crassirostris	P	P	P	P	B	B	B	P	P	B
Bulwer's petrel Bulweria bulwerii		V
Tahiti petrel Pseudobulweria rostrata		V
Grey petrel Procellaria cinerea	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	B	B	P
White-chinned petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis	P	P	P	P	P	P	B	B	B	P
Black petrel<Sbr />Procellaria parkinsoni	P	B	P		P
Westland petrel Procellaria westlandica	P	P	B	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Streaked shearwater Calonectris leucomelas		V
Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis		V
Pink-footed shearwater Ardenna creatopus		V
Flesh-footed shearwater Ardenna carneipes	P	B	P		P
Great shearwater Ardenna gravis		V	V		V
Wedge-tailed shearwater Ardenna pacifica	B	P
Buller's shearwater Ardenna bulleri	P	B	P	P	P	P
Sooty shearwater (Māori: tītī) Ardenna grisea	P	B	B	B	B	B	B	B	B	P
Short-tailed shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris	P
Christmas shearwater Puffinus nativitatis	V	V
Manx shearwater<Sbr />Puffinus puffinus		V
Hutton's shearwater Puffinus huttoni		P	B	P		P
Newell's shearwater Puffinus newelli		V
Fluttering shearwater Puffinus gavia	P	B	P	P	P	P
Scarlett's shearwater Puffinus spelaeus			X
Little shearwater Puffinus assimilis	B	B	P
Subantarctic shearwater Puffinus elegans		P	P	P	B	P	P	B	P	P
Common diving petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix		B	B	B	B	B	B	B	B
South Georgia diving petrel Pelecanoides georgicus			B	ex			ex

Frigatebirds: Masters of Flight

Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds found over tropical oceans. They are mostly black and white, or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. Male frigatebirds have colorful throat pouches that they can inflate. They are amazing fliers and can stay in the air for over a week!

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Lesser frigatebird Fregata ariel		V	V		V
Great frigatebird Fregata minor		V	V

Boobies and Gannets: Diving for Fish

Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae

This family includes gannets and boobies. Both are medium to large coastal seabirds that dive headfirst into the water to catch fish.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell
Masked booby Sula dactylatra	B	V
Brown booby Sula leucogaster	P	P	P	V
Red-footed booby Sula sula	V
Cape gannet Morus capensis		V
Australasian gannet or tākapu Morus serrator		B	B	P	P	P	P	P

Australasian gannet

Cormorants and Shags: Fish-Eating Divers

Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae

This family includes cormorants and shags. They are medium to large coastal seabirds that eat fish. Most have dark feathers, but some are black and white or even colorful. They have long, thin, hooked bills.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Little pied cormorant (Māori: kawaupaka) Microcarbo melanoleucos	B	B	B	V	V	V	V
Great cormorant (Māori: kawau) Phalacrocorax carbo	B	B	B	V	V	V
Spotted shag Phalacrocorax punctatus	B	B
Pitt shag Phalacrocorax featherstoni				B
Little black cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris	B	B	V		V
Australian pied cormorant (Māori: kāruhiruhi) Phalacrocorax varius	B	B
Bounty shag Leucocarbo ranfurlyi								V	B
New Zealand king shag Leucocarbo carunculatus		B
Otago shag Leucocarbo chalconotus		B
Foveaux shag Leucocarbo stewarti			B
Chatham shag Leucocarbo onslowi				B
Auckland shag Leucocarbo colensoi					V	B
Campbell shag Leucocarbo campbelli							B
Macquarie shag Leucocarbo purpurascens								V

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Wading Birds

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae

This family includes bitterns, herons, and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns are usually shorter-necked and more cautious. Unlike some other long-necked birds, these birds fly with their necks pulled back.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell
Australasian bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus		P	P	P	P
Black-backed bittern Ixobrychus dubius			V
New Zealand bittern Ixobrychus novaezelandiae		X	X		X
Grey heron Ardea cinerea		V
White-necked heron Ardea pacifica	V	V	V
Great egret (Māori: kōtuku) Ardea alba	V	P	B	V	V	V
Plumed egret Ardea intermedia plumifera		V	V
White-faced heron Egretta novaehollandiae	V	B	B	V	B	V	V	V
Little egret Egretta garzetta	V	V	V
Pacific reef heron Egretta sacra	V	B	B	P	V		V
Cattle egret Bubulcus ibis	V	P	P	P	V	V
Nankeen night heron Nycticorax caledonicus		B	V	V		V

Ibises and Spoonbills: Long-Billed Birds

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae

This family includes ibises and spoonbills. They are large birds that live on land and in water. They have long, wide wings and are strong fliers.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Chathams
Glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus		P	P	V
Australian white ibis Threskiornis molucca		V	V
Straw-necked ibis Threskiornis spinicollis			V
Royal spoonbill Platalea regia	V	B	B	V
Yellow-billed spoonbill Platalea flavipes		V

Royal spoonbill

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Birds of Prey

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae

This family includes hawks, eagles, and kites. These are birds of prey, meaning they hunt other animals for food. They have very strong, hooked beaks for tearing meat, powerful legs, sharp talons, and excellent eyesight.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell
Swamp harrier (Māori: kāhu) Circus approximans	P	I	I	I	I	P	P	P
Black kite Milvus migrans		V	V
Eyles's harrier Circus teauteensis		X	X
Haast's eagle Hieraaetus moorei			X	X
White-bellied sea eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster		V

True Owls: Night Hunters

Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae

Owls are mostly solitary birds of prey that hunt at night. They have large eyes that face forward, good hearing, a hooked beak, and a circle of feathers around each eye.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart	Snares
Little owl Athene noctua		I
Morepork (Māori: ruru) Ninox novaeseelandiae	B	B	B	V
Laughing owl (Māori: whēkau) Ninox albifacies	X	X	X

Kingfishers: Brightly Colored Hunters

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with big heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and short tails. They are often brightly colored.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Laughing kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae		I	V
Sacred kingfisher (Māori: kōtare) Todiramphus sanctus	B	B	B	B	V

Falcons and Caracaras: Fast Hunters

Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae

This family includes falcons and caracaras. Unlike hawks and eagles, falcons kill their prey with their beaks instead of their talons.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland
Nankeen kestrel Falco cenchroides	V	V
New Zealand falcon (Māori: kārearea) Falco novaeseelandiae	B	B	P	ex	P	B
Black falcon Falco subniger	V

Kea and Kākā: New Zealand Parrots

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Nestoridae

The Nestor group includes two types of parrots found only in New Zealand: the kea and the kākā. There were also two other species that are now extinct.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams
Kea Nestor notabilis	ex	B
Kākā Nestor meridionalis	B	B	B
Chatham kākā Nestor chathamensis				X

Kākāpō: The Owl Parrot

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Strigopidae

The kākāpō, also known as the owl parrot (Strigops habroptilus), is a large, flightless, night-active, ground-dwelling parrot. It is found only in New Zealand.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Kākāpō Strigops habroptilus		B	B	B

Cockatoos: Parrots with Crests

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Cacatuidae

Cockatoos are parrots with a curved beak and special feet that have two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward. They are known for their often beautiful, movable crests of feathers on their heads.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Galah Eolophus roseicapilla		I
Sulphur-crested cockatoo Cacatua galerita		I	I

Old World Parrots: Colorful Birds

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittaculidae

These parrots have strong, curved bills, stand upright, and have strong legs with clawed feet. Many are brightly colored. They range in size from very small to quite large. Old World parrots are found in Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Auckland	Antipodes
Rose-ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri		I	I
Antipodes parakeet Cyanoramphus unicolor							B
Red-crowned parakeet (Māori: kākāriki) Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae	B	B	B	B	B	B
Reischek's parakeet Cyanoramphus hochstetteri							B
Yellow-crowned parakeet (Māori: kākāriki) Cyanoramphus auriceps		B	B	B
Chatham parakeet Cyanoramphus forbesi					B
Malherbe's parakeet (Māori: kākāriki karaka) Cyanoramphus malherbi			B
Crimson rosella Platycercus elegans		I	I
Eastern rosella Platycercus eximius		I	I	V
Rainbow lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus		I

New Zealand Wrens: Tiny Endemic Birds

Order: Passeriformes Family: Acanthisittidae

The New Zealand wrens are a family of tiny passerine birds found only in New Zealand. There were once six known species, but only two survive today. They are a unique group of birds.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart
Lyall's wren Traversia lyalli	X	X
Rifleman (Māori: titipounamu) Acanthisitta chloris	B	B	ex
Bushwren (Māori: mātuhituhi) Xenicus longipes	X	X	X
New Zealand rock wren (Māori: pīwauwau) Xenicus gilviventris		B
South Island stout-legged wren Pachyplichas yaldwyni		X
North Island stout-legged wren Pachyplichas jagmi	X
Long-billed wren Dendroscansor decurvirostris		X

Honeyeaters: Nectar Lovers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Meliphagidae

The honeyeaters are a large group of small to medium-sized birds. They are most common in Australia and New Guinea, but also live in New Zealand and some Pacific islands.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland
Tūī Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae	B	B	B	B	B		B
New Zealand bellbird (Māori: korimako) Anthornis melanura		B	B	B		B	V
Chatham bellbird Anthornis melanocephala					X
Red wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata		V

Whiteheads: Unique New Zealand Birds

Order: Passeriformes Family: Mohouidae

The Mohoua group has three bird species found only in New Zealand. Their scientific name comes from mohua, the Māori name for the yellowhead. These birds are now placed in their own family, Mohouidae.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart
Whitehead (Māori: pōpokotea) Mohoua albicilla	B
Yellowhead (Māori: mohua) Mohoua ochrocephala		B	B
Pipipi (Māori: pīpipi) Mohoua novaeseelandiae		B	B

Old World Orioles: Colorful Songbirds

Order: Passeriformes Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colorful passerine birds. They are not closely related to the New World orioles.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
South Island piopio Turnagra capensis			X
North Island piopio Turnagra tanagra		X

Fantails: Birds with Fanned Tails

Order: Passeriformes Family: Rhipiduridae

Fantails are small birds that eat insects. They have long tails that they often fan out.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
New Zealand fantail (Māori: pīwakawaka) Rhipidura fuliginosa		B	B	B	B	ex
Willie wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys					V

Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Smart Birds

Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae

This family includes crows, ravens, jays, and magpies. These birds are larger than average for passerines, and some of the bigger species are very intelligent.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams
New Zealand raven Corvus antipodum	X	X	X
Chatham raven Corvus moriorum				X
Rook Corvus frugilegus	I	I	I	I

New Zealand Wattlebirds: Unique Endemic Birds

Order: Passeriformes Family: Callaeidae

The Callaeidae family includes birds found only in New Zealand. There are five species in this family. One species, the huia, became extinct in the early 1900s. The South Island kokako is very rare and might also be extinct.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart
North Island kōkako Callaeas wilsoni	B
South Island kōkako Callaeas cinereus		B?	ex
North Island saddleback Philesturnus rufusater	B
South Island saddleback Philesturnus carunculatus		B	B
Huia Heteralocha acutirostris	X

Stitchbird: A Special Honeyeater-like Bird

Order: Passeriformes Family: Notiomystidae

The stitchbird or hihi (Notiomystis cincta) is a bird that looks like a honeyeater. It is found only on the North Island and nearby islands of New Zealand. Scientists have studied its family tree for a long time, and now it's in its own unique family, Notiomystidae.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Stitchbird (Māori: hihi) Notiomystis cincta		B

Australasian Robins: Small Insect Eaters

Order: Passeriformes Family: Petroicidae

The bird family Petroicidae includes 49 species. All of them are found only in Australasia: New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and many Pacific Islands. They are often called Australasian robins.

Species	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland
North Island robin Petroica longipes	B
South Island robin Petroica australis		B	B
Tomtit (Māori: miromiro) Petroica macrocephala	B	B	B	B	B	B
Black robin Petroica traversi				B

Larks: Ground Birds with Songs

Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small birds that live on the ground. They often have very fancy songs and display flights. Most larks look quite plain. They eat insects and seeds.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Eurasian skylark Alauda arvensis		I	I		I

Swallows: Aerial Feeders

Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae

The swallow family is made up of birds that are built for catching food in the air. They have slender bodies, long, pointed wings, and short bills with wide mouths. Their feet are better for perching than walking.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell
Welcome swallow Hirundo neoxena	B	B	B	B	B	P	P	V
Fairy martin Petrochelidon ariel		V	V			V
Tree martin Petrochelidon nigricans		V	V		V	V

White-eyes: Birds with Eye Rings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Zosteropidae

White-eyes are small birds that usually look plain, with greenish-olive feathers on top. Some species have white or bright yellow throats or chests. As their name suggests, many have a white ring around each eye.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Silvereye (Māori: tauhou) Zosterops lateralis	B	B	B	B	B	B	B	B	B

Starlings: Gregarious Birds

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They fly strongly and directly, and they like to live in groups. They prefer open areas and eat insects and fruit. Their feathers are usually dark with a shiny, metallic look.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Common starling Sturnus vulgaris	I	I	I	I	I	I	I	I	I	V
Common myna Acridotheres tristis		I

Thrushes: Ground Feeders with Songs

Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae

Thrushes are a group of passerine birds found mostly in the Old World. They are plump, soft-feathered, and small to medium-sized. They eat insects or sometimes everything, often feeding on the ground. Many thrushes have beautiful songs.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Song thrush Turdus philomelos	I	I	I	I	I	I	V	V	V
Common blackbird Turdus merula	I	I	I	I	I	I	I	I	V

Old World Sparrows: Small Seed-Eaters

Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae

Sparrows are small passerine birds. They are usually small, plump, brown or grey, with short tails and strong, short beaks. They mainly eat seeds but also eat small insects.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
House sparrow Passer domesticus		I	I	I	I	V	V	V	V

Wagtails and Pipits: Ground-Feeding Insect Eaters

Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae

This family includes wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are slender passerine birds that feed on insects on the ground in open areas.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
New Zealand pipit (Māori: pīhoihoi) Anthus novaeseelandiae	V	B	B	B	B	V	B		B

True Finches: Seed-Eating Songbirds

Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae

Finches are small to medium-sized passerine birds that eat seeds. They have strong, often cone-shaped beaks. All finches have 12 tail feathers and nine main flight feathers. They fly with a bouncing motion and most sing well.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes
Common chaffinch Fringilla coelebs	V	I	I	I	I	I	I	I	V
European greenfinch Chloris chloris	V	I	I	I	I	V		V
Common redpoll Acanthis flammea	I	I	I	I	I	I	I	I	I
Lesser redpoll Acanthis cabaret	I	I	I	I	I	I	I	I	I
European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis	V	I	I	I	I	V	V	V	V

Old World Buntings: Seed-Eating Birds

Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of seed-eating birds with uniquely shaped bills. Many of these species have special patterns on their heads.

Species	Kermadecs	North I	South I	Stewart	Chathams	Snares	Auckland	Campbell	Antipodes	Bounty
Cirl bunting Emberiza cirlus		I	I
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella	I	I	I	I	I	V	V	V	V

Images for kids

California quail (introduced)
Leach's storm-petrel