BLACK-FRONTED TERN

Photographed at Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, June 2017

1211                 BLACK-FRONTED TERN               Chlidonias albostriatus 

NEW ZEALAND                 75

Endemic. About 8000 birds breed in small colonies on gravel riverbeds of South Island, mainly east of Southern Alps; migrates to coast to feed at sea, especially in Cook Strait and off eastern coast of both Islands, as far north as Bay of Plenty.

BLACK SHAG

Photographed at Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   169)                    BLACK SHAG              Phalacrocorax carbo  

NEW ZEALAND                  74

Also called Black Cormorant or Big Black Cormorant. Found in rivers, streams and lakes; also estuaries, harbours and sheltered coastal waters. 88 cm. Common native found throughout New Zealand.

PLUMED WHISTLING DUCK

Photographed at Napier, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   103)             PLUMED WHISTLING DUCK                  Dendrocygna eytoni 

NEW ZEALAND              73

Found in grasslands near wetlands. 50 cm. Rare Australian vagrant.

TOMTIT

Photographed at Boundary Stream, New Zealand, June 2017

1210                    TOMTIT               Petroica macrocephala 

NEW ZEALAND                 72

Found in scrub, native and exotic forest and scrub. 13 cm. Common endemic found on North Island and most, but not all, of South Island. Difference in appearances between North and South Island birds.

KAKA

Photographed at Boundary Stream, New Zealand, June 2017

1209              KAKA               Nestor meridionalis

NEW ZEALAND                    71

Favours native forest and predator and possum free offshore islands and mainland sanctuaries; but some in city and rural gardens and orchards. 45 cm. Locally common endemic over much of North Island and western half of South Island.

GREENFINCH

Photographed in Gisbourne, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   488)              GREENFINCH              Carduelis chloris    

NEW ZEALAND                     70

Found in farmland, pine plantations, native bush and scrub fringes, pine and macrocarpa shelter belts, parks and gardens. 15 cm. Common European now widespread throughout New Zealand.

MOREPORK

Photographed at Gisbourne, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   197)                       MOREPORK                Ninox novaeseelandiae 

NEW ZEALAND              69

Also known as Southern Boobook in Australia. Found in forest, scrub, lightly forested open areas, parks and gardens. 29 cm. Abundant native all over New Zealand.

GREY WARBLER

Photographed at Matata, New Zealand, June 2017

1208                      GREY WARBLER                 Gerygone igata  

NEW ZEALAND                    68  

Found in scrub, forest, parks and gardens. 10 cm. Abundant endemic found throughout New Zealand.

FERAL GOOSE

Photographed at Matata, New Zealand, June 2017

1207                 FERAL GOOSE                Anser anser 

NEW ZEALAND               67

Found in lakes, estuaries and farmland. 80 cm. Common European introduction found throughout New Zealand.

Photographed at Napier, New Zealand, June 2017

AUSTRALIAN SHOVELER

Photographed at Matata, New Zealand, June 2017

(*  265)                    AUSTRALIAN SHOVELER                Anas rhynchotis    

NEW ZEALAND                  66

Found mainly in shallow lowland wetlands and muddy estuaries. 49 cm. Common native found across all of New Zealand.

Photographed at Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, June 2017

AUSTRALIAN COOT

Photographed at Matata, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   82)                   AUSTRALIAN COOT                   Fulica atra     

                

NEW ZEALAND           65

Known in Australia as Eurasian Coot. Found in small freshwater lakes and shallow bays of larger lakes.  38 cm. A locally common native over North Island, except the northern part, and found in the eastern half of the South Island.

BANDED DOTTEREL

Photographed at Maketu, New Zealand, June 2017

(*  432)               BANDED DOTTEREL                 Charadrius bicinctus 

NEW ZEALAND                62

Breeds on sandy beaches, shellbacks and especially braided riverbeds; after breeding forms flocks at estuaries, lake margins and sometimes short grassland. 20 cm. Although described as endemic over much of New Zealand large number migrate to Australia, where it is known as Double-banded Plover.

DUNNOCK

Photographed at Mount Mamganui, New Zealand, June 2017

1206                     DUNNOCK                Prunella modularis

NEW ZEALAND              63

Found in forest, scrubland, farmland with hedges, orchards, parks and gardens. 14 cm. Common European introduction found throughout New Zealand.

LITTLE BLACK SHAG

Photographed at Mount Mamganui, New Zealand, June 2017

(*  164)                 LITTLE BLACK SHAG               Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 

NEW ZEALAND                   62

Also known as Little Black Cormorant. 61 cm. Found in lakes, estuaries and harbours. Common on North Island but rare in South Island.

REEF HERON

Photographed at Mount Mamganui, New Zealand, June 2017

(*  289)                   REEF HERON (dark morph)                     Egretta sacra 

NEW ZEALAND                61

Uncommon native; c. 500 birds found in mangrove filled inlets, rocky shores, wave platforms and sometimes intertidal mudflats; commonest in North Island, numbers decreasing southwards. 66 cm. 

CHAFFINCH

Photographed near Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, June 2017

(*  267)                    CHAFFINCH                   Fringilla coelebs    

NEW ZEALAND                     60

Found in native and exotic forest, scrub, farmland, tussock land, parks and gardens. 15 cm. Abundant European introduction found across most of New Zealand.

Photographed at Mount Mamganui, New Zealand, June 2017

Photographed at Castlepoint, New Zealand, June 2017