New Zealand's Native Animals: Birds

[RedRobin]

1. Albatross

Albatrosses are the world's largest seabirds, spending at least 85% of their lives at sea. New Zealand's albatrosses include two species of royal albatross/toroa.

2. Kōkako

The kōkako belongs to the endemic New Zealand wattlebirds, an ancient family of birds which includes the North and South Island saddle back and the extinct huia.

3. Kiwi

The kiwi is a unique and curious bird: it cannot fly, has loose, hair-like feathers, strong legs and no tail. Learn more about the kiwi, the national icon of New Zealand and unofficial national emblem.

4. Morepork/Ruru

The Morepork is New Zealand’s only surviving native owl. It is known for its haunting, melancholic call. They are called Morepork because their cry sounds like they are saying "more pork".

5. New Zealand parakeet/kākāriki

Kākāriki, meaning ‘small green parrot’ in Māori, are beautiful forest birds. They feed on berries, seeds, fruit and insects, and generally nest in holes in trees.

6. New Zealand pigeon/kererū/kūkū/kūkupa

The kererū is a large bird with iridescent green and bronze feathers on its head and a smart white vest. The noisy beat of its wings is a distinctive sound in our forests.

7. Penguins

Penguins are a unique group of flightless seabirds that are at home on land and in the sea. New Zealand has more penguin species on our shores than any other country.

8. Kea

The New Zealand kea is an endemic parrot found in the South Island's alpine environments.

9. Pūkeko

The pūkeko is probably one of the most recognised native birds in New Zealand with its distinctive colourings and habit of feeding on the ground.

10. Silvereye or wax-eye

The silvereye – also known as the wax-eye, or sometimes white eye – is a small and friendly olive green forest bird with white rings around its eyes.

11. Tūī

Tūī are unique (endemic) to New Zealand and belong to the honeyeater family, which means they feed mainly on nectar from flowers of native plants.

12. Weka

The weka is a large, brown flightless bird that has a famously feisty and curious personality. These two qualities traditionally made the bird an easy food source for Māori and early European settlers.

13. White heron/kōtuku

The white heron has always been rare in New Zealand and it has gained almost mythical status.

[Zorax]

Beautiful birds, very interesting Take :)

[RedRobin]

Thanks :)

[Zorax]

You're welcome :D

[Zorax]

Thanks for the MHO :)

[RedRobin]

np :)

[Cccgala]

The Ruru and Kotuku are my favorites :)

[RedRobin]

Thanks for reading :)

[Cccgala]

Thank you for choosing my opinion as MHO. 😊
I still am mystified with this feature, to be honest.

[coolbreeze]

I never knew New Zealand had so many cool looking bird's.

[RedRobin]

At least 80% of the native animals here are birds haha

[coolbreeze]

Wow 80% is a very big and huge number. lol.

[CyberToothTiger]

Thanks for sharing very pretty native birds awesome MyTake :D

[RedRobin]

Thanks for reading :)

[CyberToothTiger]

You're welcome :)

[blondfrog]

I've always viewed birds as dinosaurs just like how many other scientist have. Penguins are the best though and owls :3

[Other_Tommy_Wiseau]

God, I really need to go back

[RedRobin]

Thanks for reading :)

[CorvetteGirl]

Wow they are beautiful. The kiwi is so cute

[RedRobin]

Thanks for reading :)

[CorvetteGirl]

You're welcome

[Waffles731]

I really like the Kea

[RedRobin]

Yeah, they're one of my favourite birds :)

[SlightlyCrazy]

I need some New Zealand in my life

[RedRobin]

Thanks for reading