About our birds

Our native birds are a huge part of who we are as a country. We are known all over the world for our natural beauty.

In the Bays Cluster area, there are many different bird species. We are lucky to live in such a diverse ecosystem as we have the Heath cote River, the Estuary, the Port Hills and the ocean and beaches.

Forest birds

Fantail

With the Maori name Piwakawaka this friendly bird is one of the best known birds in the country.

Grey warbler

The grey warbler also known by its mauri name Riroriro, is NZ's most widely distributed native bird.

Pipit

The pipit is a small cute looking bird which is distinctive by the fact that it walks rather than hops like other small birds.

Welcome Swallow

The Welcome Swallow is a small bird from the Swallow family that is native to Australia and self introduced to New Zealand.

South Island Robin

The south island robin is a sparrow sized bird, often known to come quite close to humans.

Brown creeper

The brown creeper is a small, loud songbird which travels in flocks though forest or shrubland.

Wood pigeon

The Wood Pigeon also known as Kereru is our native Wood Pigeon. They were often hunted by the Maori and still sometimes are as they have lots of meat on them.

Long Tailed Cuckoo

The long tailed cuckoo is a summer migrant to New Zealand. Its long tail and screeching call makes it distintive.

Silvereye

Also known as Wax-eyes they are small birds that can be found in both Australia and New Zealand.

Bellbird

The Bellbirds main diet is nectar, berries and insects.

Harrier

The harrier hawk is a large-ish, brown bird of prey. It hunts by gliding over the ground and scanning for food.

Rifleman

Endemic to New Zealand the Rifleman is one of New Zealand's smallest birds. It is one of the last two endemic surviving wren species.

Falcon

The NZ Falcon is New Zealand's only falcon. Its Maori name is Karearea.

Wetland and Sea Birds

Pukeko

The Pukeko is often found in wetlands and marshes and look very similar to their cousins the Takahe.

Kingfisher

The Kingfisher are beautiful, brightly colored birds. You will often see them sitting on wires near the estuary.

Shag

There are many different types of Shags some of them are the Pied Shag, Black Shag, Little Shag, Spotted Shag and 32 other 12 of which are found in New Zealand.

Black Backed Gull

This stunning gull is the largest of the gulls. It mainly feeds on fish, birds, small mammals, insects, eggs, berries, and even large prey such as sickly lambs.

Royal Albatross

The Albatrosses are some of the largest birds in the New Zealand Marine environment. There are two different types of Royal Albatross in New Zealand.

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