Description: Large brown hawk. Food is a mix of live prey - small birds, rabbits and a lot of road killed carrion (possums, hares, hedgehogs). Wary birds and avoid humans.

Habitat: Usually seen soaring singly over farmland, open country or swamps. Commonly patrols roads and a lot of young birds killed by cars.

Size: 55 cm

Description: Large bird with deep blue underparts, bright red beak and frontal shield, black upper parts with white under tail displayed by tail flicking as it walks. Harsh screaming call. Flies clumsily with legs trailing but tends more often to run away if disturbed. Grazes pasture and may hold some vegetable matter by one foot and eat "parrot fashion". Also takes frogs, insects and even small ducklings.

Habitat: Frequently seen in family groups foraging within the vicinity of water.

Size: 50 cm

Description: Like a small black with a white beak and frontal shield. Dives for most food but will graze short grass. Very protective of young chicks and will drive much larger ducks away.

Habitat: Can be seen swimming on lakes and ponds.

Size: 40 cm

Description: Black cap, brown back and wings, white underparts with bright yellow facial wattles (like a plastic mask). Strident rattling unmistakable calls. Slow deliberate wing beats in flight. Are early nesters from May onwards on open ground. Defends nest aggressively against the , and humans.

Habitat: Conspicuous birds of open country and farmland.

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