List of New Zealand birds
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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 "mainland 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):
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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 (Okarito Brown Kiwi), Apteryx rowi
- Tokoeka, Apteryx australis
- Southern Tokoeka, Apteryx australis australis
- Haast Tokoeka, Apteryx australis lawryi
- Roa (Great Spotted Kiwi), Apteryx haastii
- Kiwi-pukupuku (Little Spotted Kiwi), Apteryx owenii
Sphenisciformes
Procellariiformes
- Sulidae
- Takapu (Gannet), Sula serrator
- 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 (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 (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 (Albatross)
- Wandering Albatross, Diomedea exulans
- Royal Albatross, Diomedea epomophora
- Black-footed Albatross, Diomedea nigripes
- Gray-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 (Red-tailed Tropic Bird), Phaethon rubricauda
- Pelecanidae
- New Zealand Pelican, Pelecanus novaezealandiae - extinct
- Phalacrocoracidae
- Kawau (Great Cormorant), Phalacrocorax carbo
- Karuhiruhi (Pied Cormorant), Phalacrocorax varius
- Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
- Kawaupaka (Little Pied Cormorant), Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
- Parekareka (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
- New Zealand Little Bittern, Ixobrychus novaezelandiae - extinct
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
- Whio (Blue Duck), Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos, Endangered
- Putangitangi (Paradise Shelduck), Tadorna variegata
- Papango (Black Teal, New Zealand Scaup), Aythya novaeseelandiae
- Auckland Islands Teal, Anas aucklandica Endangered
- Campbell Islands Teal, Anas nesiotis Critically endangered
- Pateke (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 (Purple Swamphen), Porphyrio porphyrio
- North Island Takahe, Porphyrio mantelli - extinct
- South Island Takahe, Porphyrio hochstetteri Endangered
- Weka (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 (Variable Oystercatcher), Haematopus unicolor
- Ngutuparore (Wrybill), Anarhynchus frontalis, Vulnerable
- Kaki (Black Stilt), Himantopus novaezelandiae, Critically endangered
- Tuturiwhatu (New Zealand Dotterel), Charadrius obscurus, Vulnerable
- Tuturuatu (Shore Plover), Thinornis novaeseelandiae, Endangered
- Chatham Islands Snipe, Coenocorypha pusilla Vulnerable
- Giant Chatham Island Snipe, Coenocorypha chathamica, Extinct
- Hakawai (New Zealand Snipe), Coenocorypha aucklandica
- Stewart Island Snipe, Coenocorypha aucklandica iredalei, Extinct
- Little Barrier Snipe, Coenocorypha aucklandica barrierensis, Extinct
- Huahou (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
- Stercorariidae (Hakoakoa)
- Arctic Skua, Stercorarius parasiticus (Migratory visitor)
- Brown Skua (Subantarctic Skua), Catharacta lonnbergi
Podicipediformes
- Podicipedidae
- Australasian Grebe, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
- Weweia (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 (Marsh Harrier), Circus approximans
- Harpagornis (Haast's Eagle, New Zealand Eagle, Giant Eagle), Harpagornis moorei - Extinct
- Chatham Island Sea-Eagle, Haliaeetus australis - Extinct
- Falconidae
- Karearea (New Zealand Falcon), Falco novaeseelandiae
Strigiformes
Caprimulgiformes
- Aegothelidae
- New Zealand Owlet-Nightjar, Aegotheles novaezealandiae - Extinct
Cuculiformes
Psittaciformes
- Psittacidae
- Kea (Mountain Parrot), Nestor notabilis - threatened
- Kaka (Bush Parrot), Nestor meridionalis
- Kakapo (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
- Kereru (Wood Pigeon), Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
Passeriformes
- Acanthisittidae
- Matuhi (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 (Rifleman), Acanthisitta chloris
- Yaldwyn's Wren, Pachyplichas yaldwyni - extinct
- Grant-Mackie's Wren, Pachyplichas jagmi - extinct
- Matuhi (Bush Wren), Xenicus longipes - extinct
- Corvidae
- New Zealand Crow, Palaeocorax moriorum - extinct
- Rook, Corvus frugilegus - introduced
- Motacillidae
- Pihoihoi (New Zealand Pipit), Anthus novaeseelandiae
- Petroicidae
- Miromiro (Tomtit), Petroica macrocephala - endemic
- Toutouwai (New Zealand Robin), Petroica australis - endemic
- Black Robin (Chatham Robin), Petroica traversi - endemic; endangered
- Acanthizidae
- Riroriro (Grey Warbler), Gerygone igata - endemic
- Chatham Gerygone, Gerygone albofrontata - endemic
- Meliphagidae
- Hihi (Stitchbird), Notiomystis cincta - endemic; threatened
- Tui (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 (Saddleback), Philesturnus carunculatus - endemic
- North Island Saddleback, Philesturnus carunculatus rufusater - endemic; endangered
- South Island Saddleback, Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus - endemic; endangered
- Huia, Heteralocha acutirostris - extinct
- Kokako, Callaeas cinerea - endemic
- Pardalotidae
- Korimako (New Zealand Bellbird), Anthornis melanura - endemic
- Chatham Island Bellbird, Anthornis melanocephala - extinct
- Dicruridae
- Piwakawaka (Grey Fantail), Rhipidura fuliginosa
- Zosteropidae
- Tauhou (Silvereye), Zosterops lateralis
- Muscicapidae
- Piopio, Turnagra capensis - extinct
- Chatham Island Fernbird, Bowdleria 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.
External links
- What Bird? (http://www.whatbird.co.nz/) 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) (http://bird.org.nz/Media/NZBRN/NZRBN_list.pdf) from the Ornithological Society of New Zealand. Includes the New Zealand Threat Classification. (PDF format)
- Complete list of bird species in the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/hanzab/HANZAB_spp_list.pdf), the standard reference, is available online (PDF format).
- List of Maori names of birds (http://www.kcc.org.nz/species/maoribirdnames.asp)
- New Zealand Department of Conservation - Plants and Animals (http://www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/001~Plants-and-Animals/index.asp)mi:Rārangi manu