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Description:
Our smallest penguin.
Light blue black upper parts with white underparts.
Found all around New Zealand breeding on rocky coasts under rocks, driftwood or
buildings.
Noisy at nest-site - eerie screams, growls, wails.
Swims very low in water often with only head showing.
Habitat:
Watch at dusk on beaches at nesting areas as adults come ashore.
Description:
Large brilliant white birds with buff orange heads and black trailing edges and tips of wings.
Several may dive repeatedly into a shoal of fish in company with and .
The numbers breeding at the Cape Kidnappers colony in Hawke's Bay are increasing significantly.
Habitat:
Solitary birds seen cruising off-shore.
Make spectacular dives from 15 metres up into the water to catch fish.
Description:
Our largest shag which is found worldwide.
Appears black at a distance with yellowish facial skin and white cheeks.
In sunlight wing feathers are coppery-bronze.
They bring catch to the surface where fish are juggled until it can be swallowed head-first.
Habitat:
Commonly seen on rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters actively diving for prey.
Size:
Description:
Uniformly slate-grey heron. Solitary and found only on rocky coasts.
When hunting, stands in hunched position with body almost horizontal as opposed to more
erect stance of (the only bird with which it might be confused).
Habitat:
Rarely seen away from coast. Low flight close to water.
Description:
Our commonest heron.
Blue grey plumage with obvious white face often called "blue heron".
Nests (not necessarily near water) high in trees (often pine, macrocarpa or eucalyptus).
Harsh "kraak kraak" call heard more often when breeding.
Habitat:
Commonly solitary and seen on the irrigated pastures of dairy farms,
but also rocky coasts, estuaries, lake margins, and rivers.
Size:
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: |
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Blue Penguin
(Eudyptula minor)
Australasian Gannet
(Sula serrator)
Black Shag (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Reef Heron
(Egreta sacra)
White-faced Heron (Ardea novaehollandiae)
Australasian Harrier
(Circus approximans)