FERNBIRD

Photographed on North Island, New Zealand, June 2017

1216                   FERNBIRD                Bowdleria punctata 

NEW ZEALAND                 81

Locally common endemic in top of North Island and west and south of South Island. 18 cm. Found in freshwater and tidal wetlands, especially roadbeds or pakihi with emergent scrub; also drier sparse scrub and bracken.

COMMON REDPOLL

Photographed on North Island, New Zealand, June 2017

1215                    COMMON REDPOLL                Carduelis flammea      

NEW ZEALAND              80

Common European introduction throughout New Zealand. 12 cm. Found in farmland, orchards, tussock land, forest and scrub margins, parks and gardens.

BLUE DUCK

Photographed at Turangi, New Zealand, June 2017

1214                BLUE DUCK                Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos 

NEW ZEALAND              79

Uncommon endemic with 2000-3000 birds in fast-flowing mountain streams and rivers, mainly in native forest or tussock land, occasionally on lakes. 53 cm.

MUTE SWAN

Photographed at Waimarama, New Zealand, June 2017

(*   270)                   MUTE SWAN               Cygnus olor

NEW ZEALAND                 78

Found in lakes, parks, and private waterfowl collections. 150 cm. Rare European introduction found on the central east coast area of both North and South Island. 

NEW ZEALAND PIPIT

Photographed on Te Mata Peak, New Zealand, June 2017

1213                NEW ZEALAND PIPIT              Anthus novaeseelandiae 

NEW ZEALAND                   77

Found in open habitats from coast to alpine tops, but avoids intensely farmed areas; mainly near coast, on shingle riverbeds, gravel roads, and scree slopes. 19 cm. Uncommon endemic found throughout New Zealand.

SPOTTED SHAG

Photographed at Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, June 2017

1212                        SPOTTED SHAG                      Stictocarbo punctatus 

NEW ZEALAND                   76

Also known as Blue Shag. 70 cm. Found in estuaries, harbours, and coastal waters around mainland. Locally common endemic.

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