Sea Birds of Whakaraupō
Here is our guide to sea 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 how it looks or sounds in the "Anything else you would like us to know" section.
For more information on each bird, click on their names.
80-90cm, large bird
yellow cheeks
breeding adults have red/orange cheeks and small black head crests
young birds have black-brown feathers
Call: mostly quiet away from nest. At nests, males are loud and females have soft and husky voices.
Easily confused with: little black shag. Little black shag is smaller, more slender and does not have yellow cheeks.
60-85cm, large bird
White face, neck and stomach
Blue ring around eyes
Breeding adults have brighter pink beaks, and yellow in front of their eyes
call: silent away from nests. At nests, males give loud repetitive calls and women give wheezy "hea" calls
50-60cm, medium sized bird
short yellow beak
there are many colors that the feathers can be
many have white cheeks and throats with black bellies
call: silent away from nets, or "uh, uh, uh" fading away
80cm, large bird
grey neck and throat, white stomachs
black wings and tails
yellow beaks
call: silent at sea, croak while fighting over food
easily confused with: grey-headed mollyhawk, which has more black on the underwing
Pāngurunguru/Northern giant petrel
grey and brown body and legs
adults have pink beaks and light grey on their faces
young are dark grey with yellow bills and dark colored heads
calls: growl, snap bills, and yell when scared. Noisy when feeding.
Easily confused with: Southern giant petrel, which have lighter colored heads and necks, and pale green tips of their beaks
TE REO?/Arctic skua
40-60cm, medium bird
pointed wings and rounded belly
feather colors range from dark to light
call: shrill short calls, when scared call sounds like "pjew" or a gull
easily confused with: other skuas, though those are rarer
60-70cm, large bird
grey bodies and wings
yellow feet, beaks, and eyes
call: harsh croak
easily confused with: white-faced heron, which has a white face as an adult, and pale grey underwings and body
40-50cm, large bird
black beak, brown bodies with grey wings
long narrow wings
call: mostly quiet, repeated "coo-roo-ah" at night or when threatened
easily confused with: short-tailed shearwater. It is smaller and has darker underwings
Kaikōura tītī/ Hutton's shearwater
30-40cm, medium bird
dark colored heads, wings, "armpits" and backs
white bellies
pink legs that are longer than the tail while flying
call: mostly quiet at sea, but have a "cackling" call in colonies
easily confused with: fluttering shearwater. Fluttering shearwater is paler with more white on the chin, throat, and "armpits"
35-40cm, medium bird
dark grey heads, backs and wings
white stomachs and throats
pink feet
call: short "ka-hek-ka-hek-ka-hek" during flight
easily confused with: Hutton's shearwater, which is bigger and more rare
40-45cm, medium bird
grey backs and wings
white stomachs and tails
breeding adults have black heads
call: high pitched "siet" or "keark" while threatened
easily confused with the other terns, though the white fronted tern is the palest of them all
60cm, large bird
black backs and wings
white necks and stomachs
yellow beaks
young are dark brown with black beaks and legs
call: long and loud calls of "ee-ah-ha-ha"
easily confused with: young are easily confused with the brown skua, which has larger wings and white near the tail
30-40cm, medium bird
grey wings and white bodies, stomachs, and tails,
red beaks and legs
young have brown tails, beaks and legs
call: wide range, during breeding season a loud "kek"
easily confused with: kelp gull, which has less black on the outer wings, yellow on the beaks and legs, and often seen more on land
Tōrea pango/Variable oystercatcher
45-50cm, medium bird
black wings and bodies, with some white blotches on their bellies
red beaks and eyes
pink legs
call: very loud and chatty, sharp "chip" or "click" to call to young
80-100cm, large bird
black heads and necks with a white "chin strap"
brown wings and bodies, with white stomachs
black legs and beaks
call: loud honks while disturbed or flying
Pūtangitangi/Paradise Shelduck
60-70cm, large bird
males have dark grey or black bodies with black heads
females have brown bodies with white heads
young are brown and white
call: loud and talkative, goose like a honk
50-70cm, large bird
yellow beak, orange legs, and green heads
brown bodies and wings
call: many loud "quacks"
Photo credits to linked websites, or below websites:
https://www.akaroadolphins.co.nz/our-blog/akaroa-birdlife/