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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.
Nests in a loose colony about the middle of the Spit. 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:
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:
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:
A brightly coloured finch which was introduced from Europe.
Small, with crimson face, light brown back, light underparts with bright yellow bars on black wings.
A seed and insect eater fond of thistle and often feeds on marigold and other flower seedheads in gardens.
Commonly nest in fruit trees.
Has an attractive almost canary-like song.
Habitat:
Commonly seen in farmland, parks and gardens, frequently in large winter flocks.
Description:
A sturdy olive-green finch with powerful beak (for seed crushing) and prominent yellow
flashes on side of wings and tail.
Male has a harsh repeated, rather drawn out "dzee" call.
Habitat:
Will seek out and feed on ripe sunflowers in gardens, and in winter large
flocks may be seen feeding in paddocks and open country on weed and other seeds.
Description:
Our only common widespread yellow bird.
Both sexes show yellow face and head, and upper parts brown,
but male is much the brighter.
Male song traditionally described as "little bit of bread and no cheese",
often repeated monotonously.
Ground feeder, in winter frequently seen in flocks where hay has been fed out on paddocks.
Nest on or close to ground in a tangle of vegetation.
The pale pinkish eggs are covered with purple-red scribbles.
Habitat:
Seen usually in hedgerows, scrubland and open country.
Description:
An apparently black bird whose plumage glistens with iridescent greens and purples in sunlight.
Readily distinguished from by its swaggering walk as opposed to
's hopping gait.
Commonly seen on lawns or pastures especially after rain when grass grubs more accessible.
Huge flocks wheel in unison like vast moving black clouds especially over their winter roosts,
which can comprise over 20,000 birds.
Noisy chattering birds which can become good mimics.
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Black-backed Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Red-billed Gull
(Larus scopulinus)
Caspian Tern
(Sterna caspia)
White-Fronted Tern
(Sterna striata)
Skylark
(Alauda arvensis)
Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
New Zealand Pipit
(Anthus novaeseelandiae)
Goldfinch
(Carduelis carduelis)
Greenfinch
(Cardeulis chloris)
Yellowhammer
(Emberiza citrinella)
Starling
(Sturnus vulgaris)