List of birds of New Zealand

As a land without terrestrial mammals of any kind, New Zealand was, until the arrival of the first humans, inhabited by an extraordinarily diverse range of specialised birds. The ecological niches occupied by mammals as different as cows and rodents, kangaroos and moles, were filled by reptiles, insects, or birds.

When humans arrived in New Zealand sometime between 800 and 1300, this unique and unusual ecology became endangered. Several species were hunted to extinction, most notably the moa and harpagornis. The most damage however was caused by the other animals that humans brought with them, particularly rats (the Polynesian Rat or kiore imported by Maori and the Brown Rat and Black Rat subsequently introduced by Europeans), but also dogs, cats, stoats, weasels, hedgehogs, and Australian possums. The flightless birds were in particular danger. Consequently many bird species became extinct, and others remain critically endangered. Several species are now confined only to offshore islands, or to fenced "Ecological Islands" from which predators have been eliminated. Consequently New Zealand is today a world leader in the techniques required to bring severely endangered species back from the brink of extinction.

The birds below are listed by their Maori name (where known) with English alternatives in brackets. In some cases (tui, kaka, weka, pukeko, moa, kiwi, kea, kokako, takahe) the Maori name is the common name. In other cases (fantail, albatross, Black-backed Gull, bellbird, Morepork, dotterel, wax-eye, oystercatcher) the English name is most commonly used.

The species and subspecies marked extinct became extinct subsequent to humans' arrival in New Zealand. About two thirds of the extinctions occurred after the arrival of Maori but before the arrival of Pakeha and the rest since Pakeha arrived.

Sorted (at least in part):

Struthioniformes

• Dinornithidae
  • Little Bush Moa, Anomalopteryx didiformis - extinct
  • Upland Moa, Megalapteryx didinus - extinct
  • Heavy-Footed Moa, Pachyornis elephantopus - extinct
  • Crested Moa, Pachyornis australis - extinct
  • Mappin's Moa, Pachyornis mappini - extinct
  • Eastern Moa, Emeus crassus - extinct
  • Stout-Legged Moa, Euryapteryx geranoides - extinct
  • Coastal Moa, Euryapteryx curtus - extinct
  • Slender Bush Moa, Dinornis struthoides - extinct
  • Large Bush Moa, Dinornis novaezealandiae - extinct
  • Giant Moa, Dinornis giganteus - extinct

• Apterygidae
  • North Island Brown Kiwi, Apteryx mantelli
  • Rowi or Okarito Brown Kiwi, Apteryx rowi
  • Tokoeka, Apteryx australis
    • Southern Tokoeka, Apteryx australis australis
    • Haast Tokoeka, Apteryx australis lawryi
  • Roa or Great Spotted Kiwi, Apteryx haastii
  • Kiwi-pukupuku or Little Spotted Kiwi, Apteryx owenii

Sphenisciformes

• Spheniscidae
  • King Penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus - rare/accidental
  • Emperor Penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri - rare/accidental
  • Gentoo Penguin, Pygoscelis papua - rare/accidental
  • Adelie Penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae - rare/accidental
  • Chinstrap Penguin, Pygoscelis antarctica - rare/accidental
  • Rockhopper Penguin, Pygoscelis chrysocome
  • Tawaki or Fiordland Penguin, Eudyptes pachyrhynchus
  • Snares Penguin, Eudyptes robustus
  • Erect-crested Penguin, Eudyptes sclateri
  • Macaroni Penguin, Eudyptes chrysolophus - rare/accidental
    • Royal Penguin, Eudyptes chrysolophus schlegeli - rare/accidental
  • Hoiho or Yellow-eyed Penguin, Megadyptes antipodes
  • Korora or Blue Penguin, Eudyptula minor
    • White-flippered Penguin, Eudyptula minor albosignata
  • Magellanic Penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus - rare/accidental

Procellariiformes

• Procellariidae
  • Antarctic Giant Petrel, Macronectes giganteus - Vulnerable
  • Hall's Giant Petrel, Macronectes halli - Near-threatened
  • Southern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialoides
  • Antarctic Petrel, Thalassoica antarctica - Rare/Accidental
  • Cape Petrel, Daption capense
  • Great-winged Petrel, Pterodroma macroptera
  • Tahiti Petrel, Pterodroma rostrata - Rare/Accidental
  • White-headed Petrel, Pterodroma lessonii
  • Phoenix Petrel, Pterodroma alba - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable
  • Mottled Petrel, Pterodroma inexpectata - Near-threatened
  • Providence Petrel, Pterodroma solandri - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable
  • Kermadec Petrel, Pterodroma neglecta - Rare/Accidental
  • Taiko or Magenta Petrel, Pterodroma magentae - Breeding endemic - Critically endangered
  • Soft-plumaged Petrel, Pterodroma mollis
  • Juan Fernandez Petrel, Pterodroma externa - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable
  • White-necked Petrel, Pterodroma cervicalis - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable
  • Cook's Petrel, Pterodroma cookii - Breeding endemic - Endangered
  • Gould's Petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable
  • Black-winged Petrel, Pterodroma nigripennis
  • Chatham Petrel, Pterodroma axillaris - Breeding endemic - Critically endangered
  • Stejneger's Petrel, Pterodroma longirostris - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable
  • Pycroft's Petrel, Pterodroma pycrofti - Breeding endemic - Vulnerable
  • New Zealand Storm Petrel, Oceanites maorianus - recently rediscovered
  • Blue Petrel, Halobaena caerulea
  • Broad-billed Prion, Pachyptila vittata
  • Salvin's Prion, Pachyptila salvini
  • Antarctic Prion, Pachyptila desolata
  • Slender-billed Prion, Pachyptila belcheri
  • Fulmar Prion, Pachyptila crassirostris
  • Fairy Prion, Pachyptila turtur
  • Gray Petrel, Procellaria cinerea - Near-threatened
  • White-chinned Petrel, Procellaria aequinoctialis
  • Parkinson's Petrel, Procellaria parkinsoni - Breeding endemic - Vulnerable
  • Westland Petrel, Procellaria westlandica - Breeding endemic - Vulnerable
  • Kerguelen Petrel, Aphrodroma brevirostris
  • Cory's Shearwater, Calonectris diomedea - Rare/Accidental
  • Pink-footed Shearwater, Puffinus creatopus - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable
  • Flesh-footed Shearwater, Puffinus carneipes
  • Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus pacificus - Rare/Accidental
  • Buller's Shearwater, Puffinus bulleri - Breeding endemic - Vulnerable
  • Titi or Muttonbird or Sooty Shearwater, Puffinus griseus
  • Short-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus tenuirostris
  • Christmas Shearwater, Puffinus nativitatis - Rare/Accidental
  • Manx Shearwater, Puffinus puffinus - Rare/Accidental
  • Hutton's Shearwater, Puffinus huttoni - Breeding endemic - Endangered
  • Fluttering Shearwater, Puffinus gavia
  • Little Shearwater, Puffinus assimilis
• Toroa or Albatross
  • Wandering Albatross, Diomedea exulans
  • Royal Albatross, Diomedea epomophora
  • Black-footed Albatross, Diomedea nigripes
  • Grey-headed Albatross, Thalassarche chrysostoma - Vulnerable
  • Black-browed Albatross, Thalassarche melanophris
  • Buller's Albatross, Thalassarche bulleri - Vulnerable
  • Shy Albatross, Thalassarche cauta - Near-threatened
  • Chatham Albatross, Thalassarche eremita - Critically endangered
  • Yellow-nosed Albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos
  • Sooty Albatross, Phoebetria fusca - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable
  • Light-mantled Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata - Near-threatened

Pelecaniformes

• Phaetontidae
  • Amokura or Red-tailed Tropic Bird, Phaethon rubricauda
• Pelecanidae
  • New Zealand Pelican, Pelecanus novaezealandiae - extinct
• Sulidae
  • Takapu or Gannet, Sula serrator
• Phalacrocoracidae
  • Kawau or Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
  • Karuhiruhi or Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocorax varius
  • Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
  • Kawaupaka or Little Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
  • Parekareka or Spotted Shag or Blue Shag, Phalacrocorax punctatus
  • Auckland Islands Shag, Phalacrocorax colensoi
  • Campbell Island Shag, Phalacrocorax campbelli
  • King Shag, Phalacrocorax carunculatus
  • Bronze Shag, Phalacrocorax chalconotus
  • Stewart Island Shag, Phalacrocorax featherstoni
  • Chatham Island Shag, Phalacrocorax onslowi
  • Bounty Islands Shag, Phalacrocorax ranfurlyi

Ciconiiformes

• Ardeidae
  • White-necked Heron, Ardea pacifica - rare/accidental
  • Kotuku or White Heron, Ardea alba
  • Intermediate Egret, Ardea intermedia - rare/accidental
  • Cattle Egret, Ardea ibis
  • White-faced Heron, Egretta novaehollandiae
  • Little Egret, Egretta garzetta
  • Matuku moana or Reef Heron, Egretta sacra
  • Nankeen Night Heron, Nycticoraxcaledonicus
  • Little Bittern, Ixobrychus minutus - rare/accidental
  • New Zealand Little Bittern, Ixobrychus novaezelandiae - extinct
  • Matuku or Australasian Bittern, Botaurus poiciloptilus

• Threskiornithidae
  • Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus - rare/accidental
  • Australian White Ibis, Threskiornis molucca - rare/accidental
  • Kotuku-ngutupapa or Royal Spoonbill, Platalea regia
  • Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Platalea flavipes - rare/accidental

Anseriformes

• Anatidae
  • Auckland Island Merganser, Mergus australis - extinct
  • Blue-billed Duck, Oxyura australis
  • De Lautour's Duck, Biziura delautouri - extinct
  • Chatham Island Duck, Pachyanas chathamica - extinct
  • Scarlett's Duck, Malacorhynchus scarletti - extinct (see related Pink-eared Duck)
  • Whio or Blue Duck, Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos - Endangered
  • Putangitangi or Paradise Shelduck, Tadorna variegata
  • Papango or Black Teal or New Zealand Scaup, Aythya novaeseelandiae
  • Auckland Islands Teal, Anas aucklandica - Endangered
  • Campbell Islands Teal, Anas nesiotis - Critically endangered
  • Pateke or Brown Teal, Anas chlorotis - Endangered
  • North Island Goose, Cnemiornis gracilis - extinct
  • South Island Goose, Cnemiornis calcitrans - extinct
  • New Zealand Swan, Cygnus sumnerensis - extinct

Gruiformes

• Rallidae
  • New Zealand Coot, Fulica chathamensis - extinct
  • Chatham Island Rail, Rallus modestus - extinct
  • Giant Chatham Island Rail, Diaphorapteryx hawkinsi - extinct
  • Chatham Island Banded Rail, Rallus dietienbachii - extinct
  • Hodgen's Rail, Gallinula hodgeni - extinct
  • Dieffenbach's Rail, Rallus philippensis dieffenbachii - extinct
  • Snipe-Rail, Capellirallus karamu - extinct
  • Adzebill, Aptornis otidiformis - extinct
  • Auckland Islands Rail, Lewinia muelleri - Vulnerable
  • Pukeko or Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio
  • North Island Takahe, Porphyrio mantelli - extinct
  • South Island Takahe, Porphyrio hochstetteri - Endangered
  • Weka or Woodhen, Gallirallus australis - Vulnerable

Galliformes

• Phasianidae
  • Chukar, Alectoris chukar - Introduced
  • Red-legged Partridge, Alectoris rufa - Introduced
  • Grey Partridge, Perdix perdix - Introduced
  • New Zealand Quail, Coturnix novaezelandiae - extinct
  • Brown Quail, Coturnix ypsilophora - Introduced
  • Ring-necked Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus - Introduced
  • Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus - Introduced
• Numididae
  • Helmeted Guineafowl, Numida meleagris - Introduced

Charadriiformes

• Charadriidae
  • South Island Oystercatcher, Haematopus finschi
  • Chatham Oystercatcher, Haematopus chathamensis - Endangered
  • Torea or Variable Oystercatcher, Haematopus unicolor
  • Ngutuparore or Wrybill, Anarhynchus frontalis - Vulnerable
  • Kaki or Black Stilt, Himantopus novaezelandiae - Critically endangered
  • Tuturiwhatu or New Zealand Dotterel, Charadrius obscurus - Vulnerable
  • Tuturuatu or Shore Plover, Thinornis novaeseelandiae - Endangered
  • Chatham Islands Snipe, Coenocorypha pusilla - Vulnerable
  • Giant Chatham Island Snipe, Coenocorypha chathamica - Extinct
  • Hakawai or New Zealand Snipe, Coenocorypha aucklandica
    • Stewart Island Snipe, Coenocorypha aucklandica iredalei - Extinct
    • Little Barrier Snipe, Coenocorypha aucklandica barrierensis - Extinct
  • Huahou or Red Knot, Calidris canutus
• Laridae
  • Kelp Gull, Larus dominicanus
  • Silver Gull, Larus novaehollandiae
  • Red-billed Gull, Larus scopulinus - Endemic
  • Black-billed Gull, Larus bulleri - Endemic - Vulnerable
• Sternidae
  • Taranui or Caspian Tern, Sterna caspia
  • Tarapiroe or Black-fronted Tern, Chlidonias albostriatus - Endangered
• Stercorariidae or Hakoakoa
  • Arctic Skua, Stercorarius parasiticus - Migratory visitor
  • Brown Skua or Subantarctic Skua, Catharacta lonnbergi

Podicipediformes

• Podicipedidae
  • Australasian Grebe, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
  • Weweia or New Zealand Dabchick, Poliocephalus rufopectus - Endemic - Vulnerable
  • Hoary-headed Grebe, Poliocephalus poliocephalus - Rare/Accidental
  • Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus

Falconiformes

• Accipitridae
  • Eyles' Harrier, Circus eylesi - Extinct
  • Kahu or Marsh Harrier, Circus approximans
  • Harpagornis or Haast's Eagle or New Zealand Eagle or Giant Eagle, Harpagornis moorei - Extinct
  • Chatham Island Sea-Eagle, Haliaeetus australis - Extinct
• Falconidae
  • Karearea or New Zealand Falcon, Falco novaeseelandiae

Strigiformes

• Strigidae
  • Whekau or Laughing Owl, Sceloglaux albifacies - Extinct
  • Ruru or Morepork, Ninox novaeseelandiae

Caprimulgiformes

• Aegothelidae
  • New Zealand Owlet-Nightjar, Aegotheles novaezealandiae - Extinct

Cuculiformes

• Cuculidae
  • Koekoea or Longtailed Cuckoo, Eudynamys taitensis
  • Pipiwharauroa or Shining Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidas

Psittaciformes

• Psittacidae
  • Kea or Mountain Parrot, Nestor notabilis - threatened
  • Kākā or Bush Parrot, Nestor meridionalis
  • Kakapo or Owl Parrot, Strigops habroptilus - critically endangered
  • New Zealand Red-crowned Parakeet, Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae
  • Orange-fronted Parakeet, Cyanoramphus malherbi - endangered
  • Yellow-crowned Parakeet, Cyanoramphus auriceps
  • Antipodes Island Parakeet, Cyanoramphus unicolor
  • Forbes' Parakeet, Cyanoramphus forbesi

Columbiformes

• Columbidae
  • kererū or Wood Pigeon, Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae

Passeriformes

• Acanthisittidae
  • Matuhi or Bush Wren, Xenicus longipes - extinct
    • South Island Bush Wren, Xenicus longipes longipes - extinct
    • North Island Bush Wren, Xenicus longipes stokesi - extinct
    • Stead's Bush Wren, Xenicus longipes variabilis - extinct
  • Rock Wren, Xenicus gilviventris
  • Stephens Island Wren, Traversia lyalli - extinct
  • Titipounamu or Rifleman, Acanthisitta chloris
  • Yaldwyn's Wren, Pachyplichas yaldwyni - extinct
  • Grant-Mackie's Wren, Pachyplichas jagmi - extinct

• Corvidae
  • New Zealand Crow, Palaeocorax moriorum - extinct
  • Rook, Corvus frugilegus - introduced

• Motacillidae
  • Pihoihoi or New Zealand Pipit, Anthus novaeseelandiae

• Sylviidae
  • Matata or Fernbird, Megalurus punctatus - endemic

• Petroicidae
  • Miromiro or Tomtit, Petroica macrocephala - endemic
  • Toutouwai or New Zealand Robin, Petroica australis - endemic
  • Black Robin or Chatham Robin, Petroica traversi - endemic - endangered

• Pachycephalidae
  • Popokotea or Whitehead, Mohoua albicilla - endemic
  • Mohua or Yellowhead, Mohoua ochrocephala - endemic
  • Pipipi or Brown Creeper, Mohoua novaeseelandiae - endemic

• Acanthizidae
  • Riroriro or Grey Warbler, Gerygone igata - endemic
  • Chatham Gerygone, Gerygone albofrontata - endemic

• Meliphagidae
  • Hihi or Stitchbird, Notiomystis cincta - endemic - threatened
  • Tui or Parson Bird, Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae - endemic
  • Red Wattlebird, Anthochaera carunculata - rare/accidental

• Callaeidae
  • Kokako, Callaeas cinerea - endemic
    • North Island Kokako, Callaeas cinerea wilsoni - endemic - endangered
    • South Island Kokako, Callaeas cinerea cinerea - endemic - probably extinct
  • Tieke or Saddleback, Philesturnus carunculatus - endemic
    • North Island Saddleback, Philesturnus carunculatus rufusater - endemic - endangered
    • South Island Saddleback, Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus - endemic - endangered
  • Huia, Heteralocha acutirostris - extinct

• Pardalotidae
  • Korimako or New Zealand Bellbird, Anthornis melanura - endemic
  • Chatham Island Bellbird, Anthornis melanocephala - extinct

• Dicruridae
  • Piwakawaka or Grey Fantail, Rhipidura fuliginosa

• Zosteropidae
  • Tauhou or Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis

• Muscicapidae
  • Piopio, Turnagra capensis - extinct
  • Chatham Island Fernbird, Megalurus rufescens - extinct

• Artamidae
  • Masked Woodswallow, Artamus personatus - rare/accidental
  • White-browed Woodswallow, Artamus superciliosus - rare/accidental

• Cracticidae
  • Australian Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen - introduced

• Sturnidae
  • Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis - introduced
  • European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris - introduced

• Emberizidae
  • Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella - introduced
  • Cirl Bunting, Emberiza cirlus - introduced

• Fringillidae
  • Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs - introduced
  • European Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris - introduced
  • Common Redpoll, Carduelis flammea - introduced
  • European Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis - introduced

• Passeridae
  • House Sparrow, Passer domesticus - introduced

For a comprehensive listing of families, see Australasian birds, which includes the birds of New Zealand, Australia, and the Southern Ocean.

References

Barrie Heather & Hugh Robertson (1996) The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand ISBN 0670869112

External links

• What Bird? a tool for identifying birds that are likely to be encountered in and around New Zealand forests (not intended to be a complete database of the birds of New Zealand).
• http://www.nzbirds.com/Gallery.html
• New Zealand recognized bird names (NZRBN) from the Ornithological Society of New Zealand. Includes the New Zealand Threat Classification. (PDF format)
• The 'Official' New Zealand Birders Checklist
• Complete list of bird species in the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, the standard reference, is available online (PDF format).
• List of Maori names of birds
• New Zealand Department of Conservation - Plants and Animals