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    • Birds are categorised as endemic, native or introduced. The slide show gives examples of some of the different types of birds we have in New Zealand.

    Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

    Endemic, native or introduced? – slideshow

    This slideshow gives examples of some of the different types of birds we have in New Zealand.

    Use the Slideshow menu for further options, including view full screen, and go here for the download option.

    Download

    Alternatively, teachers see below for background information on the categories of birds we have in New Zealand.

    Endemic

    Birds that have evolved and occur and breed naturally only in New Zealand.

    • korimako/bellbird (Anthornis melanura)
    • hihi (Notiomystis cincta)
    • kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus)
    • kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae)
    • kiwi (Apteryx spp.)
    • takahē (Porphyrio mantelli)
    • tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)
    • whio (Hymenolanimus malacorhynchos)
    Male bellbird feeding on a fuchsia tree tree.
    Rights: Image courtesy of Ngā Manu Images

    Male bellbird feeding

    Birds such as the tūī, bellbird and silvereye are attracted to the brightly coloured flowers of the fuchsia tree. They receive nectar from the plant and pollinate the tree at the same time.

    Native

    Birds that have arrived in New Zealand by themselves and established themselves here. They are also found in other countries.

    • kororā/blue penguin (Eudyptula minor)
    • pīwakawaka/ fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)
    • kōtare/kingfisher (Halcyon sancta)
    • ruru/morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae)
    • poaka/pied stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
    • pūkeko (Porphyrio porphyrio)
    • tauhou/silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
    Kōtare or kingfisher on a branch.
    Rights: Dave Young, CC BY 2.0

    Kōtare or kingfisher

    Kōtare or kingfishers that inhabit river areas eat small fish, insects and freshwater crayfish. If these river species decline, the kingfisher will move to another habitat.

    Introduced

    Birds that humans have brought to New Zealand.

    • blackbird Turdus merula)
    • house sparrow (Passer domesticus)
    • mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
    • peacock (Pavo cristatus)
    • pheasant (hasianus colchicus)
    • starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
    Male and female mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) ducks on rocks.
    Rights: Richard Bartz, Creative Commons 2.5

    Mallard

    The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is an introduced duck and is now the most common duck in New Zealand.

    Related content

    The Hub has an extensive range of resources featuring birds including from Native bird adaptations, Birds’ roles in ecosystems and Predation of native birds and articles on conservation of our native species and bird classification. You can also find out more about our native birds such as the kiwi, takahē, kākā, New Zealand ducks, penguins, godwits, toroa and kererū. For all of our articles and activities, browse through our birds topic.

    Activity idea

    Birds in my backyard is a ready-to-use cross-curricular teaching resource.

    In this activity, students classify the different types of adaptations that New Zealand native birds have.

    Useful links

    Visit the New Zealand Birds website for specific information on each of the birds that can be found in New Zealand. This site also gives information about extinct birds.

    The New Zealand Birds Online website allows you to search by bird name and gives details of species information, habitat, breeding and ecology as well as sound clips of their calls.

      Published 8 July 2010, Updated 20 April 2020 Referencing Hub articles
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