Guide to Whakaraupō's Land Birds
Here is our guide on land birds that you might find in Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour!
If you are having trouble identifying a bird, mark it as unknown in the form or write about it in the "Anything else you would like us to know" section.
For more information on each bird, click on their names. For our guide on native birds click here.
Look for: Small brown bird.
Easily confused with Pihoihoi. Pihoihoi is greyer, with striped stomach and light colored beak.
Look for: Biggest green bird, with green back and stomach.
Look for: Small yellow and brown bird.
Look for: V shaped body while flying.
Look for: large bird with green head and wings and white body. Loud flapping wings.
Look for: patterned stomach and neck. Feathers sticking out from the forehead.
Look for: Distinctive call, "like bells".
Easily confused with Greenfinch. Greenfinch is larger with grey wings and a light, thick beak.
Look for: Green and Blue wings with yellow stomach.
Look for: mostly black bird with white back and beak.
Look for: friendly black bird with orange eyes and beak.
Look for: Small bird with large dark colored head. Tiny beaks and wings.
Look for: Orange stomach and back with blue heads.
Look for: White ring around dark colored eyes.
Easily confused with greenfinch. Greenfinch is larger with green stomach. The Tauhou has a small dark colored beak with dark colored legs.
Look for: Patterned brown back with white stomach.
Easily confused with Riroriro. Riroriro has a grey back without patterning.
Look for: fan shaped tail. Very friendly and vocal.
Look for: Brown and grey bird with patterned stomach.
Easily confused with Riroriro. Riroriro has white stomach without patterning and dark colored beak.
Look for: Green wings with striped stomach.
Look for: bird with red on head and stomach.
Look for: Grey backs with light colored stomach and red eyes.
Easily confused with the Pihoihoi. Pihoihoi has dark colored eyes, light colored beak, and striped stomach.
Look for: plump bird with brown patterned backs and tiny beaks.
Easily confused with Pipirihika. Pipirihika has a longer beak. Pay attention to body shape.
Look for: white spotted stomach with brown back.
Easily confused with Riroriro. Riroriro has grey back without patterned stomach.
Look for: purple and blue bird with yellow beak. May look black from a distance.
Look for: Bird with reddish brown on face and back.
Look for: smallest bird you are likely to see. Green backs and light stomachs.
Look for: white pouch under neck. Many long complex calls.
Look for: Blue backs with orange faces and necks.
All images are credited to the linked websites.