Description: Essentially a South Island inland gull breeding on lakes and rivers and regularly breeding on Ruamahanga River bed at differing sites each year. Similar to , but adults have black beak and legs with less black on wing tips in flight.

Habitat: Feeds on rivers, lakes, wet pasture and cultivated paddocks. A small gull seen inland is most likely to be a .

Size: 40 cm

Description: Our largest gull, black and white with yellow beak. Juveniles have mottled brown plumage and only attain adult plumage by 3-4 years. Numbers have increased enormously near urban centres which provide more sources of food.

Habitat: Never far off-shore, but can be seen soaring over all parts of the country including our mountain ranges. An opportunistic feeder seen on wet pastures, cultivated land, rubbish tips, sewer outlets.

Size: 60 cm

Description: Blue grey pigeon with iridescent green purple sheen on neck. Prominent black bars on wings. Urban birds show alot of plumage variation due to interbreeding with dovecote escapees. In towns roost and breed (almost all year round) on ledges of old tall buildings. Rural flocks frequent large bridges and holes in cliffs. Town birds are street scavengers. Country birds flock to newly sown or harvested cereal or pea crops and are disliked by farmers.

Habitat: Most commonly seen in towns roosting on ledges of tall buildings, in the country on newly-sown paddocks, and coastally in holes in cliffs.

Description: A small bird not much bigger than a sparrow. Crown and upper parts bronze green. Underparts white barred with similar iridescent green. Their simple call of repeated two syllable ascending notes is followed by one or two descending notes. Returns to breed (parasitising nests) after wintering in the Solomon Islands. Eat caterpillars.

Habitat: More often than seen in spring and early summer. Easily imitated and bird will often call back. Frequent native forest, scrub and gardens.

Description: Brightly coloured blue-green bird with light orange breast and sharp powerful beak. More often seen away from water and perhaps eats more insects, worms, lizards than fish. Known to kill small birds such as . Uses the beak to excavate a nest hole in rotten trees or banks. Harsh repeated "kek-kek-kek" call heard more often when breeding.

Habitat: Commonly seen sitting motionless on roadside powerlines, watching for prey. In winter many of our kingfishers migrate to the coast and may be seen feeding on fish and small crabs from rock pools.

Description: Soaring singing small brown bird of open country and pastures. May display small crest when seen perching in profile (a feature not seen in ).

Habitat: Commonly seen as a small dot singing as it hovers high above the nesting territory.

Description: Fast-flying small forktailed blue black bird with orange red face and throat. Numbers have exploded since the 1960s when breeding was first recorded in the Wairarapa. A welcome migrant from Australia as its presence has in no way jeopardised existence of our other aerial feeding, predominantly insectivorous bird () which prefers forests and gardens. Their open mud nests are stuck onto rough vertical walls of culverts, bridges and buildings. They can have 3 clutches a year.

Habitat: Swallows chase and catch aerial insects over open country and water.

Size: 15 cm

Description: Similar in appearance and size to but behaviour very different. Tends to run away instead of flying off (as does ) when approached and when it does fly usually only goes a short distance before alighting. Has a longer tail than and frequently flicks it up and down. Not a songster, but has a harsh "swee" call.

Habitat: Usually in pairs on shingle river beds or gravel road margins. Widely distributed from coast to alpine meadows. But does not live in cultivated land or farm pastures like .