Native Land Birds of Whakaraupō
Kia ora!
Here is our guide on native land birds that live in Whakaraupō. Click on each bird name to learn more about each species.
If you are unsure of which bird you have seen, mark it as unknown or write a comment when you are sending in your bird count!
For our full list of birds in the area click here.
Look for: V shaped body while flying.
Adults are usually about 50 cm long making the Kāhu a large bird. They have a brown back with a light brown stomach and yellow eyes. Young Kāhu are brown all over with brown eyes. They are mostly silent, but during breeding season their call is high pitched sharp and one note.
Look for: large bird with green head and wings and white body. Loud flapping wings.
Kererū are also a large bird at about 50 cm. They have distinct green wings and necks. Their stomachs are white and their beaks are orange and their eyes are red. They communicate by flapping their wings, so you are likely to hear wings flapping loudly but no bird calls.
Look for: Distinctive call, "like bells".
Easily confused with Greenfinch. Greenfinch is larger with grey wings and a light, thick beak.
Korimako are a smaller bird at about 20 cm. They have green bodies and red eyes. Young females have brown eyes and yellow cheeks. Young males have brown wings and tails. They have three distinct calls that is different in different places.
Look for: Green and Blue wings with yellow stomach.
Kōtare are a medium sized bird at about 25cm. They have green and blue backs and heads and yellow or orange stomachs. They also have a large black beak. Adults have a white throat. Their call is short and sounds like 'kek-kek-kek'
Look for: Small bird with large dark colored head. Tiny beaks and wings.
The Tomtit is a small bird, under 15 cm long. They have short beaks and tails and large heads. They can have black heads and beaks and yellow stomachs. They can also have black heads and white stomachs. Their calls are high pitched and chirpy.
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.
The Tauhou is a small bird, under 15 cm. It has green wings and a grey or dark green back. Their stomachs are usually white, yellow or grey. It has a distinct white ring around dark colored eyes. Their calls are high pitched and go up and down in pitch with each note.
Look for: fan shaped tail. Very friendly and vocal.
The Pīwakawaka is a small bird at about 15 cm. They can have grey heads, brown backs, red stomachs and black and white tails. They can also be mainly black or dark brown. Both of them typically have large tails. They can be quite talkative with high pitched rhythmic calls.
Look for: Green wings with striped stomach.
They are fairly small and under 20 cm long. Pipīwharauroa have green wings and heads with white and dark green striped stomachs. Their faces are white and black. Their calls are repetitive and go from low to high pitched.
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.
They are very small at about 10 cm long. They are grey brown with a light colored stomach and dark colored wings. They also often have red or brown colored eyes. Their calls are wavering and long.
Look for: smallest bird you are likely to see. Green backs and light stomachs.
The Tītitipounamu is the smallest bird in New Zealand and under 10 cm. They can have green heads and backs or yellow and brown heads and backs. They have grey stomachs and black beaks. They have short wings and tails but long beaks. Their call is fast, short and high. It can be so high that people cannot hear the Tītitipounamu's voice.
Look for: white pouch under neck. Many long complex calls.
The Tūī is a large bird at about 30 cm. Tūī have black wings and green and blue heads and stomachs. They have distinct white pouches under their throats. Their calls are highly variable and they often mimic other birds.
Look for: Blue backs with orange faces and necks.
They are small birds at about 15 cm. They have blue and grey backs with orange faces and necks. They have twittering, chattering quiet calls.
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