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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 [[rat]]s (the [[Polynesian Rat]] or kiore imported by [[Māori]] and the [[Brown Rat]] and [[Black Rat]] subsequently introduced by Europeans), but also [[House Mouse|mice]], [[dog]]s, [[cat]]s, [[stoat]]s, [[weasel]]s, [[hedgehog]]s, and Australian [[possum]]s and [[wallaby|wallabies]]. 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 Island]]s" 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.
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 [[rat]]s (the [[Polynesian Rat]] or kiore imported by [[Māori]] and the [[Brown Rat]] and [[Black Rat]] subsequently introduced by Europeans), but also [[House Mouse|mice]], [[dog]]s, [[cat]]s, [[stoat]]s, [[weasel]]s, [[hedgehog]]s, and Australian [[possum]]s and [[wallaby|wallabies]]. 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 Island]]s" 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 [[Māori language|Māori]] name (where known) with [[English language|English]] alternatives in brackets. In some cases (Tui, Kaka, Weka, Pūkeko, moa, kiwi, Kea, kōkako, Takahē) the Māori 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 birds below are listed by their [[Māori language|Māori]] name (where known) with [[English language|English]] alternatives in brackets. In some cases (Tui, Kākā, Weka, Pūkeko, moa, kiwi, Kea, Kōkako, Takahē) the Māori 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 [[Māori]] but before the arrival of [[Pākehā]] and the rest since Pākehā arrived.
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 [[Māori]] but before the arrival of [[Pākehā]] and the rest since Pākehā arrived.
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*[[Psittacidae]]
*[[Psittacidae]]
** [[Kea]] or [[Mountain Parrot]], ''Nestor notabilis'' - '''threatened'''
** [[Kea]] or [[Mountain Parrot]], ''Nestor notabilis'' - '''threatened'''
** [[Kākā]] or [[Bush Parrot]], ''Nestor meridionalis''
** [[Kākā]] or [[Bush Parrot]], ''Nestor meridionalis'' - '''endangered'''
** [[Kākāpō]] or [[Owl Parrot]], ''Strigops habroptilus'' - '''critically endangered'''
** [[Kākāpō]] or [[Owl Parrot]], ''Strigops habroptilus'' - '''critically endangered'''
** [[Kākāriki|New Zealand Red-crowned Parakeet]], ''Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae''
** [[Kākāriki|New Zealand Red-crowned Parakeet]], ''Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae''

Revision as of 12:51, 5 January 2007

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 Māori and the Brown Rat and Black Rat subsequently introduced by Europeans), but also mice, dogs, cats, stoats, weasels, hedgehogs, and Australian possums and wallabies. 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 Māori name (where known) with English alternatives in brackets. In some cases (Tui, Kākā, Weka, Pūkeko, moa, kiwi, Kea, Kōkako, Takahē) the Māori 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 Māori but before the arrival of Pākehā and the rest since Pākehā arrived.

Also see the List of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds, which includes the birds of New Zealand, Australia, Antarctica, and the surrounding ocean and islands.

References

  • Barrie Heather & Hugh Robertson (1996) The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand ISBN 0-670-86911-2
  • Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists - Martin Collinson, British Birds vol 99 (June 2006), 306-323