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05 New Zealand Bird Photography

133 galleries

New Zealand currently has 206 species of breeding birds, of which 94 (46%) are endemic, 76 are native, and 37 are introduced. When the bird fauna is expanded to include vagrant and extinct species, New Zealand has 482 species.

Prior to the late arrival of humans (approximately 700 years ago), New Zealand's unique island ecosystem had been primarily dominated by birds, insects, and reptiles. From flightless wonders such as the kiwi and kakapo (world's heaviest parrot), to spectacular seabirds the likes of the isolative yellow-eyed penguin and majestic wandering albatross, to the world's rarest wader (black stilt), New Zealand's diverse array of peerless avifauna have been at the forefront of conservation initiatives and ecotourism.

Taken by award-winning New Zealand wildlife photographer and author Kimball Chen, this gallery of New Zealand bird photography is available for conservation projects, advertising, or fine art gallery prints.

Please contact us today for a quote.

For more details and research about New Zealand birds, please visit www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz or www.birdsnz.org.nz

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  • Albatrosses in Flight, New Zealand
    Albatrosses in Flight, New Zealand
    201 images
    Few things are as majestic as catching sight of an albatross effortlessly gliding in its zig-zag pattern while riding the air currents above the ocean. The impressive wingspan of the albatross is the largest of any bird, reaching over 3 metres in some species of albatrosses. Such mighty wings allow it to essentially be a living hang-glider. In this gallery are a selection of flying albatross pics from New Zealand (as well as some portraits and some just sitting out on the ocean), ranging from the Southern Royal to Buller's to Wandering to Gibson's to White-capped to Salvin's Albatrosses. To find a New Zealand albatross based on name, simply type in the name of the desired albatross in the search engine above.
  • Antarctic Skua Pictures - Photos
    Antarctic Skua Pictures - Photos
    4 images
  • Antarctic Tern Pictures - Photos
    Antarctic Tern Pictures - Photos
    1 image
  • Antipodean Albatross Pictures - Photos
    Antipodean Albatross Pictures - Photos
    2 images
    The Antipodean Albatross (Diomedea antipodensis) is endemic to New Zealand. It has a hooded appearance, with a brown breast band and brown cap.
  • Antipodes Island Parakeet Pictures - Photos
    Antipodes Island Parakeet Pictures...
    9 images
    The vulnerable Antipodes Island Parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor) is classified as threatened species. They are endemic to the Antipodes Islands of New Zealand. The Antipodes Parakeet spends much of its time on the ground, enjoying feeding on grass and tussock stalks.
  • Australasian Crested Grebe Pictures - Photos
    Australasian Crested Grebe Pictures...
    42 images
  • Australian Coot Pictures - Photos
    Australian Coot Pictures - Photos
    15 images
    New Zealand had two endemic coots, now extinct. In the later 20th century the Australian coot (Fulica atra australis) has become established. It was first recorded breeding in 1958 on Lake Hayes, in Otago. By 2005, around 2,000 were scattered on lakes throughout both main islands. The bird is one of four subspecies of the Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), which is native to Europe, northern Africa, Asia and greater Australasia. The Australian coot breeds in Australia and New Zealand. It is a protected self-introduced native. Coots dive to gather aquatic plants or invertebrates, which they bring back to the surface to swallow. They also graze ashore. Shallow bays on medium-sized lakes with plenty of raupo (bulrush) and other shelter are their usual habitat, but they also visit lakes in urban parks. Most long-distance flying is done at night. Coots make floating nests of twigs and raupo attached to lake vegetation such as willow, and usually raise two clutches. After breeding they gather in large flocks.
  • Australian Magpie Pictures - Photos
    Australian Magpie Pictures - Photos
    6 images
    Australian Magpies were introduced from Australia to New Zealand in 1860s to control pasture pests. Pictures in this gallery are of white-backed Australian magpies.
  • Banded Dotterel Pictures - Photos
    Banded Dotterel Pictures - Photos
    49 images
    The Banded Dotterel in New Zealand, is a small (18 cm) wader in the plover family of birds. It lives in beaches, mud flats, grasslands and on bare ground. Its two bands across the chest (top is black and thinner, bottom is chestnut and thicker) make it readily distinguishable.
  • Banded Rail Pictures - Photos
    Banded Rail Pictures - Photos
    3 images
  • Barbary Dove Pictures - Photos
    Barbary Dove Pictures - Photos
    3 images
    The Barbary Dove was introduced to New Zealand as a cage bird but has become feral from time to time.
  • Bar-tailed Godwit Pictures - Photos
    Bar-tailed Godwit Pictures - Photos
    15 images
    Bar-tailed Godwits migrating from the Alaskan tundra to New Zealand hold the record for non-stop migration. After breeding in the tundra, they embark on a non-stop flight of 11,600 km, travelling south across the Pacific Ocean and arriving on New Zealand's North Island only some six days later, having flown at an average speed of 80 kilometres an hour!
  • Bellbird Pictures - Photos
    Bellbird Pictures - Photos
    41 images
  • Black-billed Gull Pictures - Photos
    Black-billed Gull Pictures - Photos
    26 images
    The Black-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus bulleri) is endemic to New Zealand. Although it looks like just another ordinary sea gull, this species has lost over 90% of its population in the last one to two decades, and has thus been placed on the endangered species list. Almost 80% of its population lives on the South Island of New Zealand. Pictures and photos of the black-billed gull in this gallery are from Sandy Bay and Lake Pukaki.
  • Blackbird Pictures - Photos
    Blackbird Pictures - Photos
    18 images
  • Black-fronted Tern Pictures - Photos
    Black-fronted Tern Pictures - Photos
    28 images
    With a population of 5,500, the Black-fronted Tern is endangered and endemic to New Zealand. Although it is a coastal bird, it is unique by being the only one that breeds exclusively inland. The black-fronted tern breeds on shingle, stoney or sandy areas in fast-flowing braided rivers, and on the shores of lakes, with sparse vegetation. It searches for food over rivers, lakes and farm fields, and in winter can be found in coastal areas, roosting on tidal flats and islands, rarely venturing further than 10 km offshore. Terns belong to the same family as gulls, but are distinguishable by a forked tail, which has led to their other popular name of sea swallows.
  • Black Shag Pictures - Photos
    Black Shag Pictures - Photos
    12 images
  • Black Stilt Pictures - Photos
    Black Stilt Pictures - Photos
    25 images
  • Black Swan Pictures - Photos
    Black Swan Pictures - Photos
    14 images
  • Blue Duck Photos - Pictures
    Blue Duck Photos - Pictures
    61 images
    An estimated 2500 endangered blue ducks remain in the world, which is a lot less than the kiwi! Interestingly, the blue duck is the only member of its genus and has no close relatives anywhere in the world. The blue duck is believed to have appeared at a very early stage in evolutionary history and the species' isolation in New Zealand has resulted in it acquiring a number of unique anatomical and behavioural features. The blue duck pics in this gallery were photographed in Fiordland National Park, along the Hollyford River.
  • Blue Penguin Pictures - Photos
    Blue Penguin Pictures - Photos
    21 images
    The blue penguin is also known as the little blue penguin or fairy penguin, as it is the smallest of the 18 species of penguins. It weighs a little over 1 kg. Blue penguins come ashore near dusk and live in underground burrows or sometimes underneath people's homes.
  • Brown Creeper Pictures - Photos
    Brown Creeper Pictures - Photos
    10 images
    The brown creeper or pīpipi (Mohoua novaeseelandiae) of the South Island and Stewart Island is the smallest of the three Mohoua species – 13 centimetres long. Males weigh 13.5 grams, females 11 grams. The head and back are brown, with a grey face and neck. Brown creeper numbers have fallen, but they remain in many areas of the Southern Alps, Nelson, Marlborough, Kaikōura, Banks Peninsula and the Catlins, living in exotic pine forest and scrub as well as mature native forest. Young birds move from tree to tree in flocks of up to 50, chorusing their sweet ‘peee–pee–pee’ call.
  • Brown Quail Pictures - Photos
    Brown Quail Pictures - Photos
    3 images
  • Brown Teal Pictures - Photos
    Brown Teal Pictures - Photos
    3 images
  • Buller's Albatross Pictures - Photos
    Buller's Albatross Pictures - Photos
    7 images
    Buller's Albatross (Thalassarche bulleri) is a near threatened species. It has a small breeding population with only three significant breeding locations, one in the Chatham Islands to the east of New Zealand, and the other on Snares and Solander islands to the south. It is endemic to New Zealand.
  • Buller's Shearwater Pictures - Photos
    Buller's Shearwater Pictures - Photos
    1 image
  • California Quail Pictures - Photos
    California Quail Pictures - Photos
    20 images
    The California Quail is the state bird of California. It was introduced to Australia and New Zealand. The California Quail is a highly sociable bird that often gathers in small flocks known as "coveys". One of their daily communal activities is a dust bath. If startled, these birds explode into short rapid flight, called "flushing". Given a choice, they will normally make their escape on foot.
  • Campbell Black-browed Albatross Pictures - Photos
    Campbell Black-browed Albatross...
    3 images
  • Canadian Goose Pictures - Photos
    Canadian Goose Pictures - Photos
    9 images
  • Cape Petrel - Pictures - Photos
    Cape Petrel - Pictures - Photos
    11 images
    The Cape Petrel, also known as the 'painted one' because of the striking pattern on its back and wings is a dark brown-black with white splotches. These pigeon-sized birds nest on the sea cliff ledges and in rock crevices and can live for 15 to 20 years. Most petrels have a skittering, skimming-type flight; hence their name, which means 'Little Peter" for the Apostle who walked on the water with Christ on the Sea of Galilee. All petrel species have dense plumage, webbed feet and deeply grooved and hooked bills. Petrels typically have long nostrils, indicating a strong sense of smell, unusual for birds. Interestingly, most petrel species can regurgitate their stomach oil as a defense mechanism against predators.
  • Caspian Tern Pictures - Photos
    Caspian Tern Pictures - Photos
    12 images
    The Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) is the largest of the terns. It can be found throughout the world, from their breeding habitat in large lakes and ocean coasts in North America, and locally in Europe (mainly around the Baltic Sea and Black Sea), to Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Breeding is in spring and summer, with one to three pale blue green eggs, with heavy brown spotting, being laid. They nest either together in colonies, or singly in mixed colonies of other tern and gull species. The nest is on the ground among gravel and sand, or sometimes on vegetation; incubation lasts for 26-28 days.
  • Cattle Egret Pictures - Photos
    Cattle Egret Pictures - Photos
    16 images
  • Chaffinch Pictures - Photos
    Chaffinch Pictures - Photos
    13 images
  • Chicken Pictures - Photos
    Chicken Pictures - Photos
    4 images
  • Common Pheasant Pictures - Photos
    Common Pheasant Pictures - Photos
    6 images
  • Eastern Great Egret Pictures - Photos
    Eastern Great Egret Pictures - Photos
    20 images
  • Eastern Rosella Pictures - Photos
    Eastern Rosella Pictures - Photos
    4 images
  • Fantail Pictures - Photos
    Fantail Pictures - Photos
    67 images
  • Fantail Pigeon Pictures - Photos
    Fantail Pigeon Pictures - Photos
    4 images
    The fantail pigeon is a fancy pigeon domesticated from the rock pigeon.
  • Fernbird Pictures - Photos
    Fernbird Pictures - Photos
    2 images
  • Fiordland Crested Penguin Pictures - Photos
    Fiordland Crested Penguin Pictures...
    103 images
    The Fiordland Crested Penguin is a migratory species found in the waters of Antarctica around the Southern Islands. During breeding season, this species can be found along the Fiordland coast and its outlying islands, as well as on Stewart Island. Breeding sites are typically found near dense temperate forests or among the rocks for protection. The main prey are cephalopods (~85%), mainly Arrow Squid, followed by crustaceans (~13%) such as Krill, and lastly fish (~2%) such as Red Cod and Hoki. The Fiordland Crested Penguin is listed as a vulnerable species, due to its small population of about 2,500 pairs.
  • Foveaux Shag
    Foveaux Shag
    1 image
  • Golden Pheasant Pictures - Photos
    Golden Pheasant Pictures - Photos
    9 images
  • Goldfinch Pictures - Photos
    Goldfinch Pictures - Photos
    15 images
  • Great Crested Grebe Pictures - Photos
    Great Crested Grebe Pictures - Photos
    29 images
  • Great-Winged Petrel - Pictures - Photos
    Great-Winged Petrel - Pictures -...
    1 image
    The Great-winged petrel is an all dark-brown gadfly petrel found in the 'Roaring Forties.' They breed in winter and lay a single egg in May to July in burrows excavated out of vegetated peat slopes. Chicks fledge in November and December, just when the summer-breeding burrowing petrels are getting started. Like most burrowing petrels, Great-wings arrive at their burrows after dark, to reduce their chances of being caught by predatory Antarctic skuas. Great-wings eat primarily squid caught at night.
  • Greenfinch Pictures - Photos
    Greenfinch Pictures - Photos
    1 image
  • Grey Duck Pictures - Photos
    Grey Duck Pictures - Photos
    14 images
    The Grey Duck (Anas superciliosa) is generally found in remote interior wetlands in New Zealand. Outside of New Zealand, it is commonly referred to as the Pacific Black Duck. Due to its rapid decline in New Zealand from hunting, the Grey Duck has been elevated to 'nationally endangered' on the 2008 New Zealand Threat Classification System. The Grey Duck joins South Island brown teal and Campbell Island teal as the three most critically endangered New Zealand ducks, and is now in the category of such iconic brink of extinction birds as black robin, kakapo and takahe. Its characteristic 'zebra-striped' face makes it easy to identify a pure-bred Grey Duck. In the pictures and photos with the baby ducklings is a Grey Duck that has interbred with a Mallard.
  • Grey Teal Pictures - Photos
    Grey Teal Pictures - Photos
    14 images
  • Grey Warbler Pictures - Photos
    Grey Warbler Pictures - Photos
    13 images
    The Grey Warbler (Riroriro) is endemic to New Zealand. Smaller than the silvereye, the Grey Warbler is quite difficult to photograph because it rarely stays still - it is quite active and moves from one branch to the other, looking for and feeding on spiders and insects. Grey warblers are unique among New Zealand birds in building a pear-shaped structure with a side entrance near the top. Although the male collects material, the nest itself is constructed by the female from grass, leaves, rootlets and moss, held together with spider web threads. It is constructed anywhere from 2 to 25 feet above the ground, and is lined with feathers and other soft material. Their breeding season is from August to January and they usually manage two clutches, but the Shining Cuckoo often parasitises this second clutch leaving a single egg for the warblers to incubate and rear.
  • Haast Brown Kiwi
    Haast Brown Kiwi
    1 image
  • Hedge Sparrow Pictures - Photos
    Hedge Sparrow Pictures - Photos
    5 images
  • House Sparrow Pictures - Photos
    House Sparrow Pictures - Photos
    6 images
    The common House Sparrow. Enough said.
  • Hutton's Shearwater - Pictures - Photos
    Hutton's Shearwater - Pictures -...
    3 images
    Hutton's shearwater/titi (Puffinus huttoni) is the only New Zealand seabird that breeds in a sub-alpine environment. The species is nationally endangered, with its two remaining breeding colonies located in the Seaward Kaikoura mountains.
  • Indian Mynah Pictures - Photos
    Indian Mynah Pictures - Photos
    1 image
  • Kaka Parrot Pictures - Photos
    Kaka Parrot Pictures - Photos
    41 images
  • Kakapo Pictures - Photos
    Kakapo Pictures - Photos
    7 images
  • Kea - Alpine Parrot - Pictures - Photos
    Kea - Alpine Parrot - Pictures -...
    176 images
    Kea photo stock images. The kea parrot (Nestor notabilis) is an alpine parrot found only in New Zealand. A kea bird can satisfy its daily caloric intake typically within an hour, which frees their day up to play and learn via social/group behavior. This social learning ability is not often found in wildlife, and makes the kea a rather intelligent bird. Keas are more often known for their inquisitive and destructive behavior; they seem to rather enjoy tampering with hikers' boots and backpacking gear. New Zealand pictures of the kea in this gallery have all been taken in Fiordland, New Zealand, mostly during the winter. Once locating the keas, they definitely don't seem shy of having their photos taken. Juvenile keas are easily identified by the yellow ring around their eye and nostrils. This yellow coloring fades within 2 years.
  • Kelp Gull Pictures - Photos
    Kelp Gull Pictures - Photos
    16 images
    Kelp Gulls are also known as Dominican Gulls, or Black-backed Gulls. They owe much of their succes to their flexible feeding habits, as they can thrive on almost anything organic. They can be seen scavenging at garbage dumps, or scavenging on dead pups at fur seal colonies, or following fishing vessels for offal and dumped bycatch, and even dropping molluscs from a height on to rocks below.
  • Kiwi Pictures - Photos
    Kiwi Pictures - Photos
    6 images
  • Kokako Pictures - Photos
    Kokako Pictures - Photos
    3 images
    Wattled crows are a tiny family from New Zealand with just two species, one of which, the Kokako is endangered. The other species is the Saddleback. They are crow-like, but have characteristic fleshy wattles at the sides of the base of their bill.
  • Lesser Sand Plover
    Lesser Sand Plover
    16 images
  • Little Owl Pictures - Photos
    Little Owl Pictures - Photos
    1 image
    Little owls were introduced with the aim of reducing the population of sparrows, which had become pests on farms. There were concerns that they might damage native bird populations, but their diet turned out to be mainly invertebrates - and occasionally small birds, frogs, lizards and mice. They often walk or run about, feeding on the ground. A little owl is similar in weight to a morepork, but its head is flatter and its tail shorter. Little owls nest in holes in trees, earth banks, rabbit burrows and buildings. They are not strictly nocturnal - they often appear during the day and sometimes sun themselves. The natural range of the little owl (Athene noctua) is Europe, North Africa and Asia. Also known as German owls, they were introduced to Britain in the 1870s. Between 1906 and 1910, about 300 little owls were released in Otago and Canterbury. The little owl weighs about 180 grams, slightly heavier than the native morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae). But its length - about 23 centimetres - is less, because it has a shorter tail.
  • Little Shag Pictures - Photos
    Little Shag Pictures - Photos
    33 images
  • Mallard Duck Pictures - Photos
    Mallard Duck Pictures - Photos
    14 images
  • Marsh Crake Picture - Photos
    Marsh Crake Picture - Photos
    1 image
  • Morepork Pictures - Photos
    Morepork Pictures - Photos
    4 images
    The Morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae) gets its name from its distinctive territorial call at night, "morepork!" Although the Morepork looks similar to the Little Owl, the morepork is larger and darker and browner, and the only owl to be seen in forest habitats. The morepork is native to New Zealand, but also found in Australia (where it is called the boobook owl), as well as eastern Indonesia and New Guinea. The pictures and photos of the Morepork in this gallery are of an owl named "Morpy", who was rescued after sustaining multiple injuries from a collision with a moving car.
  • Muscovy Duck Pictures - Photos
    Muscovy Duck Pictures - Photos
    4 images
    The Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) has been domesticated for centuries by the indigenous people of South America. In New Zealand, the Muscovy Duck found on some farms where they are domesticated for their meat.
  • New Zealand Dotterel Pictures - Photos
    New Zealand Dotterel Pictures - Photos
    58 images
    The New Zealand Dotterel or Red-breasted Plover (Charadrius obscurus) is an endangered species and endemic to New Zealand, usually found on sandy beaches and sandspits or feeding on tidal estuaries. Dotterels are nearing extinction with about 1700 Northern NZ Dotterels, and approximately 250 or so Southern NZ Dotterels. Its Maori names include Tuturiwhatu, Pukunui, and Kukuruatu. It is related to the Eurasian dotterel.
  • New Zealand Falcon Pictures - Photos
    New Zealand Falcon Pictures - Photos
    47 images
    New Zealand's only endemic falcon and the only remaining bird of prey endemic to New Zealand. Other common names for the bird are Bush Hawk and Sparrow Hawk. A member of the Falconidae bird family, the New Zealand Falcon is mainly found in heavy bush and the steep high country in the South Island and is rarely seen north of a line through the central area of the North Island. New Zealand Falcon pictures in this gallery are from Fiordland and Glenorchy.
  • New Zealand Pipit Pictures - Photos
    New Zealand Pipit Pictures - Photos
    5 images
  • New Zealand Rock Wren
    New Zealand Rock Wren
    8 images
    Of the seven species of wren in New Zealand, only two survive: the New Zealand Rock Wren, and their bush counterparts, the Rifleman. Rock Wren are the only true alpine birds in New Zealand, spending all their lives in rocks and scrub above the bush line. It is a vulnerable and threatened species, just one classification shy of becoming endangered. A study in Fiordland's Murchison Mountains showed their population almost halved over the twenty years between 1985 and 2005. Pictures of the South Island Rock Wren are from Fiordland National Park.
  • New Zealand Scaup Pictures - Photos
    New Zealand Scaup Pictures - Photos
    24 images
  • New Zealand Shoveler Pictures - Photos
    New Zealand Shoveler Pictures - Photos
    4 images
  • New Zealand Wood Pigeon Pictures - Photos
    New Zealand Wood Pigeon Pictures -...
    61 images
    The Kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) is New Zealand's only native pigeon. Double the size of most other pigeons found on other continents, the New Zealand wood pigeon is unmistakable and a rather beautiful bird with its iridscent chest feathers.
  • Northern Giant Petrel
    Northern Giant Petrel
    21 images
    The Northern Giant Petrel comes from the Procellariiformes order, which are referred to as tube-nosed seabirds, due to their unique nose structure. All tube-noses have tubular nostrils, and all Procellariidae have the openings on top of the upper portion of the bill. Largest of the petrel family, Giant Petrels, unlike albatrosses, forage on both land and sea. On land, they kill birds as large as King penguins and scavenge in seal colonies. At sea, they eat fish, squid and crustaceans, scavenging dead whales and seabirds, as well. Their carrion-feeding reputation earned them the nickname 'stinkers' from whalers. Another nickname is the 'sea vulture'. Petrel refers to St. Peter and from the story of him walking on water, which refers to how they run on top of the water as they are getting airborne. Picture number 05 shows a good example of the Northern Giant Petrel running on water with wings spread out, preparing for takeoff.
  • Northern Royal Albatross Pictures - Photos
    Northern Royal Albatross Pictures -...
    12 images
    The Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi) is an endangered species. It nests at the Chatham Islands, Enderby Island in the Auckland Islands, and also at Taiaroa Head on the Otago Peninsula in New Zealand.
  • North Island Robin Pictures - Photos
    North Island Robin Pictures - Photos
    3 images
  • Pacific Reef Heron Pictures - Photos
    Pacific Reef Heron Pictures - Photos
    1 image
    The Pacific reef heron, also known as the Pacific reef egret, or Eastern reef egret, is quite widely distributed from Bangladesh to Korea and Japan, through the Pacific Islands to Australia. They are now quite rare in New Zealand.
  • Paradise Shelduck Pictures - Photos
    Paradise Shelduck Pictures - Photos
    37 images
  • Peacock Pictures - Photos
    Peacock Pictures - Photos
    14 images
  • Pied Shag Pictures - Photos
    Pied Shag Pictures - Photos
    18 images
  • Pied Stilt Pictures - Photos
    Pied Stilt Pictures - Photos
    38 images
    The White-headed Stilt or Pied Stilt is a bird in the Recurvirostridae family. It is sometimes treated as a distinct species Himantopus leucocephalus, sometimes included in the Common or Black-winged Stilt as Himantopus himantopus leucocephalus.
  • Pukeko Pictures - Photos
    Pukeko Pictures - Photos
    71 images
  • Red-billed Gull Pictures - Photos
    Red-billed Gull Pictures - Photos
    25 images
    The Red-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus scopulinus), once also known as the Mackerel Gull, is a native of New Zealand. Until recently it was regarded as a subspecies of the Silver Gull (Larus novaehollandiae) found in Australia, and the two species are very similar in appearance. However the most recent research suggests that they are not particularly closely related. Behaviourally, the Red-Billed gull is a typical gull. It is an aggressive scavenger and kleptoparasite.
  • Red-crowned Parakeet (Kakariki) Pictures - Photos
    Red-crowned Parakeet (Kakariki)...
    21 images
  • Red Junglefowl Pictures - Photos
    Red Junglefowl Pictures - Photos
    1 image
  • Red Poll Pictures - Photos
    Red Poll Pictures - Photos
    9 images
  • Rifleman Pictures - Photos
    Rifleman Pictures - Photos
    19 images
    New Zealand's smallest bird is the rifleman or tititi pounamu (Acanthisitta chloris), which is endemic. The scientific and Maori names for this bird both refer to the male's green plumage: New Zealand Infantry riflemen wore green coats, pounamu is the Maori word for greenstone, and chloris is Greek for yellowish green. At just 8 cm long, virtually no tail, their tiny body is almost round. The riflemen moves around with distinctive short aerial hops, clinging easily to rough tree trunks. Working their way up a tree in similar fashion to a treecreeper, they take spiders, beetles, small weta, caterpillars and moths from foliage and cracks in the bark. Adults and young often forage close together. They keep in contact with a high-pitched buzzing call, a single note that is out of hearing range for some people. Each pair has its own territory, which both males and females defend. Riflemen live in a variety of forest types: lowland conifer-broadleaf forest, high-altitude beech forest, mature tawa forest and manuka-kanuka scrub.
  • Rock Pigeon Pictures - Photos
    Rock Pigeon Pictures - Photos
    7 images
  • Royal Spoonbill Pictures - Photos
    Royal Spoonbill Pictures - Photos
    48 images
  • Ruddy Turnstone Pictures - Photos
    Ruddy Turnstone Pictures - Photos
    10 images
    The Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) breeds on tundra along the entire Arctic Ocean coastline but winters in the southern hemisphere. About 5000 birds winter in New Zealand, arriving mainly in September and deaprting in March. It prefers rock pools and beaches and tends to avoid mud flats and marshes.
  • Sacred Kingfisher - New Zealand Kingfisher Pictures - Photos
    Sacred Kingfisher - New Zealand...
    19 images
    The New Zealand Kingfisher, also known as the Sacred Kingfisher (Halcyon sancta) is a forest kingfisher, as opposed to kingfishers that belong the fishing family. Ancient Greeks called these birds "Halkyon", and believed that during mid-winter, it nested and reared its young on the surface of the sea. Throughout this time, the waters remained calm, the winds blew lightly, and to this day, sailors call such weather "Halcyon days". Pictures of the kingfishers here are from Southland, New Zealand.
  • Saddleback Pictures - Photos
    Saddleback Pictures - Photos
    10 images
    The Tieke or Saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus) is a previously rare and endangered New Zealand bird. By the turn of the 20th century, saddleback became extinct on the mainland of New Zealand, with the North Island subspecies being confined to Hen Island off Northland, and the South Island subspecies being restricted to Big South Cape Island off Stewart Island. Today, thanks to careful management by DOC, the South Island saddleback population is up to 700, spread over 11 small islands.
  • Salvin's Albatross Pictures - Photos
    Salvin's Albatross Pictures - Photos
    27 images
    Salvin's Albatross (Thalassarche salvini) is listed as a vulnerable species, mainly because 97% of the population breeds at just one location, the Bounty Islands, an isolated group of rocks south-east of New Zealand. It is also known to scavenge and therefore is at risk from commercial fishing operations. It is endemic to New Zealand.
  • Shy Albatross Pictures - Photos
    Shy Albatross Pictures - Photos
    5 images
  • Silvereye Pictures - Photos
    Silvereye Pictures - Photos
    61 images
    Silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) were blown across the Tasman Sea from Australia to New Zealand in 1856. The Maori called these birds "tauhou" which translates to "little stranger". Looking closely at these pictures, you can see a distinctive ring of white feathers around their eye, which has led to silvereyes also being referred to as white-eyes, or waxeyes.
  • Skylark Pictures - Photos
    Skylark Pictures - Photos
    5 images
  • Song Thrush Pictures - Photos
    Song Thrush Pictures - Photos
    5 images
    The song thrush was introduced into New Zealand from its natural home in Europe and western Asia in the 1860s. Nesting occurs mostly between August and December. Nests are usually found 1 to 3 metres up in a shrub or hedge. Three or four pale blue eggs make up the clutch.
  • Sooty Shearwater Pictures - Photos
    Sooty Shearwater Pictures - Photos
    3 images
  • Southern Brown Kiwi Pictures - Photos
    Southern Brown Kiwi Pictures - Photos
    5 images
  • Southern Royal Albatross Pictures - Photos
    Southern Royal Albatross Pictures -...
    34 images
  • South Island Pied Oystercatcher Pictures - Photos
    South Island Pied Oystercatcher...
    29 images
    The South Island Oystercatcher or South Island Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi), often contracted to the acronym SIPO, is one of the two common oystercatchers found in New Zealand. Distinguish from pied morph of Variable Oystercatcher by white lower back, more white on wing and demarcation line of black and white on breast further forward. Distinguish from Pied Oystercatcher by longer bill and shorter legs as well as forward demarcation line of white on back being pointed rather than square. The South Island Pied Oystercatcher (endemic to New Zealand) is different than the Pied Oystercatcher (found in Australia).
  • South Island Robin Pictures - Photos
    South Island Robin Pictures - Photos
    22 images
  • South Island Tomtit Pictures - Photos
    South Island Tomtit Pictures - Photos
    30 images
    The New Zealand tomtit or k?miromiro (Petroica macrocephala) is endemic. There are five subspecies - one on each of the North, South, Chatham, Snares and Auckland islands. They have a dark head, throat and back - black in males, brown in females - with white underparts. Although it is widespread in forests, it is not common. One pair of tomtits apparently stay about the same area all their lives and resent the presence of another of their kind within their fenceless domain, the male fiercely chasing the trespasser and causing it to hurriedly take the shortest cut home. The range of the tomtit's territory is quite extensive, maybe ten or more acres.
  • Spotted Dove Pictures - Photos
    Spotted Dove Pictures - Photos
    2 images
    In New Zealand, the Malay spotted dove is found mainly in and around Auckland but also in the Bay of Plenty, near Te Puke and Opotiki. The birds’ natural range is Asia, from India and Sri Lanka to southern China, Taiwan and Timor.
  • Spotted Shag Pictures - Photos
    Spotted Shag Pictures - Photos
    49 images
    The spotted shag (Stictocarbo Punctatus) is the most elegant of the New Zealand cormorants. At the start of the breeding season, black crests appear on its forehead and at the back of its head. Long white plumes are scattered over its head and upper parts, and its dark brown eye is ringed with blue and surrounded by a patch of bright green. Spotted shags are endemic to New Zealand, and commonly found on rocky shores and headlands of the North and South Islands. Pictures and photos of the spotted shag in this gallery are from Riverton and Moeraki, on the South Island of New Zealand.
  • Spur-winged Plover Pictures - Photos
    Spur-winged Plover Pictures - Photos
    11 images
  • Starling Pictures - Photos
    Starling Pictures - Photos
    7 images
  • Stewart Island Robin Pictures - Photos
    Stewart Island Robin Pictures - Photos
    11 images
    The Stewart Island Robin is a subspecies of the South Island Robin.
  • Stewart Island Shag Pictures - Photos
    Stewart Island Shag Pictures - Photos
    4 images
    The Stewart Island Shag (Phalacrocorax chalconotus) is also known as the Bronze Shag or Stewart Shag. This cormorant is endemic to New Zealand. It is dimorphic, coming in two differing color forms, a bronze and pied form. Pictures and photos of the Stewart Island Shag in this gallery are from Stewart Island, Otago Peninsula, and Moeraki.
  • Stitchbird Pictures - Photos
    Stitchbird Pictures - Photos
    18 images
    With only a small population surviving on Little Barrier Island, the stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta) became extinct on the mainland of New Zealand by 1885. Starting in the 1995, the New Zealand Wildlife Service (now Department of Conservation) translocated numbers of individuals from Hauturu (Little Barrier Island) to other island sanctuaries to create separate populations. These islands were part of New Zealand's network of offshore reserves which have been cleared of introduced species and which protect other rare species including the Kakapo and Takahe. Currently the world population has improved to an estimated 4,500, moving from endangered to a current status of vulnerable. The stitchbird survives on Hauturu, Kapiti Island, Tiritiri Matangi Island, Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua, the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary and the Waitakere Ranges.
  • Swamp Harrier Pictures - Photos
    Swamp Harrier Pictures - Photos
    18 images
  • Takahe Pictures - Photos
    Takahe Pictures - Photos
    43 images
    The endangered takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri) is a flightless bird endemic to New Zealand. It is the largest living member of the Rallidae. Thought to be extinct since 1898, the Takahe was rediscovered near Lake Te Anau in the Murchinson Mountains in 1948 by an Invercargill doctor named Dr. Geoffery Orbell. The population in the wild is estimated to be a mere 92 as of 2008.
  • Toulouse Goose Pictures - Photos
    Toulouse Goose Pictures - Photos
    11 images
  • Tui Pictures - Photos
    Tui Pictures - Photos
    105 images
    The tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) is endemic to New Zealand. It is regarded as one of the forest's finest singers, with some of its notes too high for human ears to hear. A closer look at these pictures show that their plumage is not simply a dull blue-black colour, but a beautiful iridescent blue and green with a brownish shoulder cape. Tuis belong to the family of nectar eaters, and favourite food sources are the flowers of native trees and shrubs, such as flax, rata, and fuchsia, puriri, kowhai, and pohutukawa. In some of these photographs, you can see that their foreheads are stained yellow/orange with pollen.
  • Variable Oystercatcher Pictures - Photos
    Variable Oystercatcher Pictures -...
    34 images
  • Wandering Albatross Pictures - Photos
    Wandering Albatross Pictures - Photos
    53 images
    The Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans) is listed as a vulnerable species. It is the largest of the four species of Wanderers. Older adult males develop an almost all white plumage, hence its alternative name of 'snowy' albatross. The Latin word "exsulans" means 'living as an exile", referring to its high-seas roaming behavior. The Wandering Albatross breeds on South Georgia Island, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Prince Edward Islands, and Macquarie Island, is seen feeding year round off the Kaikoura Peninsula on the east coast of the south island of New Zealand and it ranges in all the southern oceans from 28° to 60°.
  • Waxeye Pictures - Photos
    Waxeye Pictures - Photos
    57 images
  • Weka Pictures - Photos
    Weka Pictures - Photos
    8 images
  • Welcome Swallow Pictures - Photos
    Welcome Swallow Pictures - Photos
    12 images
    The first Welcome Swallows (Hirundo tahitica) were blown across the Tasman Sea from Australia to New Zealand in the 1950s. This swallow performs amazing high speed maneuvers in the air when hunting airborne insects. In August, pairs perform nupital displays by chasing each other in flight. Look for nests in August and September, usually under the eaves of a house, under a bridge, or in a shed or farm building.
  • Westland Petrel - Pictures - Photos
    Westland Petrel - Pictures - Photos
    18 images
    The Westland Petrel (Procellaria westlandica) is is a rare seabird that is endemic to New Zealand. It has a highly restricted breeding range, currently confined to a small area of the west coast of New Zealand's South Island in an area protected in Paparoa National Park in dense forested hills. It is one of the largest petrels that nest in burrows, and is threatened by stoats and possums and feral cats. At sea it ranges from Tasmania to Chile taking fish and squid, as well as fishery waste.
  • White-capped Albatross Pictures - Photos
    White-capped Albatross Pictures -...
    37 images
    The White-capped Albatross (Thalassarche steadi) has very concentrated breeding sites with about 95% of the population on Disappointment Island in the Auckland group souoth of New Zealand. It is endemic to New Zealand. DNA analysis has only recently allowed scientists to differentiate the White-capped Albatross from the Shy Albatross. The White-capped Albatross is the largest of the family of mollymawks.
  • White-chinned Petrel - Pictures - Photos
    White-chinned Petrel - Pictures -...
    5 images
    The White-chinned Petrel or Cape Hen, Procellaria aequinoctialis, is a large shearwater in the family Procellariidae. It ranges around the Southern Oceans as far north as South Australia, Peru and Namibia, and breeds colonially on scattered islands. Their diet is composed mainly of krill followed by fish. White-chinned Petrels feed by surface seizing and by undertaking shallow dives, and they will readily follow ships to collect fisheries discards, making them vulnerable to long line fisheries.
  • White-faced Heron Pictures - Photos
    White-faced Heron Pictures - Photos
    54 images
    The White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandia) also known as the Blue Crane, White-fronted Heron, and incorrectly as the Grey Heron, is a common bird throughout most of Australasia. During the breeding season pinkish-brown or bronze nuptial plumes appear on the foreneck and breast, with blue-grey plumes appearing on the back.
  • White-fronted Tern Pictures - Photos
    White-fronted Tern Pictures - Photos
    46 images
    The White-fronted Tern (Sterna striata) is the most common tern of New Zealand. It rarely swims, apart from bathing, despite having webbed feet. The species is protected. White-fronted Terns feed in large flocks by plunge diving on shoals of smelt and pilchards which have been driven to the surface by larger fish and are easily caught. Like all terns they fly with their heads and bills pointing down to see their prey. Breeding is between October and January in large colonies on rocky cliffs and offshore islands.
  • Whitehead Pictures - Photos
    Whitehead Pictures - Photos
    5 images
    The endemic whitehead's rich song gives it its alternative name of 'bush canary'. Successful population growth on Tiritiri Matangi Island began with a mere 40 birds transferred from Little Barrier Island in 1989, to over 1000 by 2004. Whitehead are now the most abundant bird species on the Tiri, which has allowed for translocation to the Hunua Ranges, the Waitakere Ranges, and Tawharanui Regional Park in New Zealand.
  • White Heron Pictures - Photos
    White Heron Pictures - Photos
    21 images
  • Wild Turkey Pictures - Photos
    Wild Turkey Pictures - Photos
    7 images
    The wild turkey, (Meleagris gallopavo) is native to North America and found in New Zealand. There are no restrictions on hunting wild turkey in New Zealand, and hunting season for these gamebirds is open all 365 days of the year, although I obviously prefer shooting pictures and photos of the turkeys rather than bullets or arrows. : )
  • Wrybill Pictures - Photos
    Wrybill Pictures - Photos
    22 images
    The Wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis) is a species of plover endemic to New Zealand. It is unique in that it is the only species of bird in the world with a beak that is bent sideways (almost always to the right). These pictures were taken at the Firth of Thames, in Miranda.
  • Yellow-crowned Parakeet Pictures - Photos
    Yellow-crowned Parakeet Pictures -...
    16 images
    All six New Zealand parakeets are endemic. The smallest is the yellow-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus auriceps), at just 24 cm. Parakeets are also known as kakariki (little kaka). The Maori saying 'ko te rua porete hai whakarite', meaning 'just like a nest of kakariki', was used to describe a group of people gossiping excitedly. This is because kakariki make a chattering call as they fly and while feeding. In autumn and winter they search for food in flocks, but are more solitary during the breeding season. They live in conifer-broadleaf and beech forest as well as scrub, in both the North and South islands. They mainly feed in the treetops, eating scale insects, leaf miners and aphids, the buds or flowers of k?nuka, r?t? and beech, and beech seeds. They usually nest in holes in old trees. On the mainland the yellow-crowned species are more widespread and common than red-crowned parakeets, but on predator-free islands the red-crowned species dominates.
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin Pictures - Photos
    Yellow-eyed Penguin Pictures - Photos
    218 images
    The endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) is a rather unique species of penguin, native to New Zealand, and with a population of only about 4000. It is considered one of the world's rarest penguin species. It may be the most ancient of all living penguins. While penguins are commonly seen in large colonies, the yellow-eyed penguin is a rather isolative creature. This piscivorous bird spends the majority of the day fishing in the ocean, then waddles alone onto shore shortly before sunset. Once ashore, it heads towards its nest tucked away in the forest or scrub, on slopes facing the sea. "Hoiho" is the Maori name for this penguin, which translates into 'noise shouter'. It is common to hear this penguin throw back its head and cry out. A close look at a picture of a yellow-eyed penguin shows a striking yellow eye band sweeping back from each yellow eye. Common locations for viewing this endangered species are at Otago Peninsula, Stewart Island, and the Catlins, in the South Island of New Zealand.
  • Yellowhammer Pictures - Photos
    Yellowhammer Pictures - Photos
    7 images
    The Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella, was introduced to New Zealand in 1862 from Europe. Its distinctive song sounds like it is saying "A little bit of bread and no cheese," which translates into a high-pitched twitter of 'chitty-chitty-chitty-chitty-sweeee'.

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