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Description:
Large black coastal wader with long straight red beak and red eye.
Many birds display variable degrees of whiteness of underparts.
Territoral, usually seen in pairs but small non-breeding groups occur.
Sharp "kleep kleep kleep" call with musical piping during ritualised courtship.
Habitat:
Typically only seen in estuaries or on the coast.
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:
Description:
A starling-sized brown bird with white underparts on which are black throat and
reddish-chestnut bands.
Defends nesting territory vigorously against dotterels of same species.
Habitat:
Inhabits sandy beaches and stony riverbeds.
Size:
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:
Description:
Our commonest small gull and the one invariably seen on TV during Test Cricket matches.
Grey and white gull with red beak and legs.
Habitat:
Usually coastal but flocks may be seen feeding or roosting on cultivated paddocks or
sports fields within a few miles of the sea.
is the first species to appear when you toss out some food at a beach
picnic.
.
Description:
Large silver-grey tern with strong red beak and jet black cap in breeding season,
which becomes smudgy in winter.
Loud harsh call "kaaa". Dives for small fish.
Habitat:
Most commonly seen patrolling inshore coastal waters, flying with head and beak pointed down looking for fish.
Usually single birds seen.
Description:
Our commonest tern. Pearl grey and white with swallow tail and black cap
separated by white forehead from black beak.
This feature gives bird its name.
Habitat:
Rarely observed away from the coast.
Look for flocks just offshore diving for small fish.
In breeding season often seen flying back to chicks with small fish in beak.
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:
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:
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 .
Description:
Prominent black and white crow-like bird.
Aggressive and may physically attack humans and
if either venture close to their nests.
Unprotected since 1991 and commonly trapped or shot as a pest.
Kill and eat small birds and take their eggs.
Native species increase in numbers when magpies are eliminated.
Best feature of this bird is its flute-like morning carolling.
Habitat:
Motor in the country and you could easily believe these large black and white birds
were our commonest bird.
They are very obvious in family groups foraging on pasture.
Size: |
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Variable Oystercatcher
(Haematopus unicolour)
Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus novaehollandiae)
Banded Dotterel (Charardrius bicinctus)
Black-backed Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Red-billed Gull
(Larus scopulinus)
Caspian Tern
(Sterna caspia)
White-Fronted Tern
(Sterna striata)
Rock Pigeon
(Colomba livia)
Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
New Zealand Pipit
(Anthus novaeseelandiae)
Australian Magpie
(Gymnorhina hypoleuca)