List of New Zealand birds
As a land without terrestrial mammals of any kind, New Zealand was, until the arrival of the first humans , inhabited by an extraordinarily diverse range of specialised birds . The ecological niches occupied by mammals as different as cows and rodents , kangaroos and moles , were filled by reptiles , insects , or birds.
When humans arrived in New Zealand sometime between 800 and 1300, this unique and unusual ecology became endangered. Several species were hunted to extinction, most notably the moa and harpagornis . The most damage however was caused by the other animals that humans brought with them, particularly rats (the Polynesian Rat or kiore imported by Maori and the Brown Rat and Black Rat subsequently introduced by Europeans), but also dogs , cats , stoats , weasels , hedgehogs , and Australian possums . The flightless birds were in particular danger. Consequently many bird species became extinct, and others remain critically endangered. Several species are now confined only to offshore islands, or to fenced "mainland islands" from which predators have been eliminated. Consequently New Zealand is today a world leader in the techniques required to bring severely endangered species back from the brink of extinction.
The birds below are listed by their Maori name (where known) with English alternatives in brackets. In some cases (tui, kaka, weka, pukeko, moa, kiwi, kea, kokako, takahe) the Maori name is the common name. In other cases (fantail, albatross, Black-backed Gull, bellbird, Morepork, dotterel, wax-eye, oystercatcher) the English name is most commonly used.
The species and subspecies marked extinct became extinct subsequent to humans' arrival in New Zealand. About two thirds of the extinctions occurred after the arrival of Maori but before the arrival of Pakeha and the rest since Pakeha arrived.
Dinornithidae
Little Bush Moa , Anomalopteryx didiformis - extinct
Upland Moa , Megalapteryx didinus - extinct
Heavy-Footed Moa , Pachyornis elephantopus - extinct
Crested Moa , Pachyornis australis - extinct
Mappin's Moa , Pachyornis mappini - extinct
Eastern Moa , Emeus crassus - extinct
Stout-Legged Moa , Euryapteryx geranoides - extinct
Coastal Moa , Euryapteryx curtus - extinct
Slender Bush Moa , Dinornis struthoides - extinct
Large Bush Moa , Dinornis novaezealandiae - extinct
Giant Moa , Dinornis giganteus - extinct
Sulidae
Takapu (Gannet), Sula serrator
Procellariidae
Antarctic Giant Petrel , Macronectes giganteus Vulnerable
Hall's Giant Petrel , Macronectes halli Near-threatened
Southern Fulmar , Fulmarus glacialoides
Antarctic Petrel , Thalassoica antarctica Rare/Accidental
Cape Petrel , Daption capense
Great-winged Petrel , Pterodroma macroptera
Tahiti Petrel , Pterodroma rostrata Rare/Accidental
White-headed Petrel , Pterodroma lessonii
Phoenix Petrel , Pterodroma alba Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
Mottled Petrel , Pterodroma inexpectata Near-threatened
Providence Petrel , Pterodroma solandri Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
Kermadec Petrel , Pterodroma neglecta Rare/Accidental
Taiko (Magenta Petrel), Pterodroma magentae Breeding endemic Critically endangered
Soft-plumaged Petrel , Pterodroma mollis
Juan Fernandez Petrel , Pterodroma externa Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
White-necked Petrel , Pterodroma cervicalis Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
Cook's Petrel , Pterodroma cookii Breeding endemic Endangered
Gould's Petrel , Pterodroma leucoptera Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
Black-winged Petrel , Pterodroma nigripennis
Chatham Petrel , Pterodroma axillaris Breeding endemic Critically endangered
Stejneger's Petrel , Pterodroma longirostris Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
Pycroft's Petrel , Pterodroma pycrofti Breeding endemic Vulnerable
Blue Petrel , Halobaena caerulea
Broad-billed Prion , Pachyptila vittata
Salvin's Prion , Pachyptila salvini
Antarctic Prion , Pachyptila desolata
Slender-billed Prion , Pachyptila belcheri
Fulmar Prion , Pachyptila crassirostris
Fairy Prion , Pachyptila turtur
Gray Petrel , Procellaria cinerea Near-threatened
White-chinned Petrel , Procellaria aequinoctialis
Parkinson's Petrel , Procellaria parkinsoni Breeding endemic Vulnerable
Westland Petrel , Procellaria westlandica Breeding endemic Vulnerable
Kerguelen Petrel , Aphrodroma brevirostris
Cory's Shearwater , Calonectris diomedea Rare/Accidental
Pink-footed Shearwater , Puffinus creatopus Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
Flesh-footed Shearwater , Puffinus carneipes
Wedge-tailed Shearwater , Puffinus pacificus Rare/Accidental
Buller's Shearwater , Puffinus bulleri Breeding endemic Vulnerable
Titi (Muttonbird or Sooty Shearwater), Puffinus griseus
Short-tailed Shearwater , Puffinus tenuirostris
Christmas Shearwater , Puffinus nativitatis Rare/Accidental
Manx Shearwater , Puffinus puffinus Rare/Accidental
Hutton's Shearwater , Puffinus huttoni Breeding endemic Endangered
Fluttering Shearwater , Puffinus gavia
Little Shearwater , Puffinus assimilis
Toroa (Albatross)
Wandering Albatross , Diomedea exulans
Royal Albatross , Diomedea epomophora
Black-footed Albatross , Diomedea nigripes
Gray-headed Albatross , Thalassarche chrysostoma Vulnerable
Black-browed Albatross , Thalassarche melanophris
Buller's Albatross , Thalassarche bulleri Vulnerable
Shy Albatross , Thalassarche cauta Near-threatened
Chatham Albatross , Thalassarche eremita Critically endangered
Yellow-nosed Albatross , Thalassarche chlororhynchos
Sooty Albatross , Phoebetria fusca Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
Light-mantled Albatross , Phoebetria palpebrata Near-threatened
Phaetontidae
Amokura (Red-tailed Tropic Bird), Phaethon rubricauda
Pelecanidae
Phalacrocoracidae
Kawau (Great Cormorant), Phalacrocorax carbo
Karuhiruhi (Pied Cormorant), Phalacrocorax varius
Little Black Cormorant , Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Kawaupaka (Little Pied Cormorant), Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
Parekareka (Spotted Shag or Blue Shag), Phalacrocorax punctatus
Auckland Islands Shag , Phalacrocorax colensoi
Campbell Island Shag , Phalacrocorax campbelli
King Shag , Phalacrocorax carunculatus
Bronze Shag , Phalacrocorax chalconotus
Stewart Island Shag , Phalacrocorax featherstoni
Chatham Island Shag , Phalacrocorax onslowi
Bounty Islands Shag , Phalacrocorax ranfurlyi
Ardeidae
New Zealand Little Bittern , Ixobrychus novaezelandiae - extinct
Anatidae
Auckland Island Merganser , Mergus australis - extinct
Blue-billed Duck , Oxyura australis
De Lautour's Duck , Biziura delautouri - extinct
Chatham Island Duck , Pachyanas chathamica - extinct
Scarlett's Duck , Malacorhynchus scarletti - extinct
Whio (Blue Duck), Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos , Endangered
Putangitangi (Paradise Shelduck), Tadorna variegata
Papango (Black Teal, New Zealand Scaup), Aythya novaeseelandiae
Auckland Islands Teal , Anas aucklandica Endangered
Campbell Islands Teal , Anas nesiotis Critically endangered
Pateke (Brown Teal), Anas chlorotis , Endangered
North Island Goose , Cnemiornis gracilis - extinct
South Island Goose , Cnemiornis calcitrans - extinct
New Zealand Swan , Cygnus sumnerensis - extinct
Rallidae
New Zealand Coot , Fulica chathamensis - extinct
Chatham Island Rail , Rallus modestus - extinct
Giant Chatham Island Rail , Diaphorapteryx hawkinsi - extinct
Chatham Island Banded Rail , Rallus dietienbachii - extinct
Hodgen's Rail , Gallinula hodgeni - extinct
Dieffenbach's Rail , Rallus philippensis dieffenbachii - extinct
Snipe-Rail , Capellirallus karamu - extinct
Adzebill , Aptornis otidiformis - extinct
Auckland Islands Rail , Lewinia muelleri Vulnerable
Pukeko (Purple Swamphen), Porphyrio porphyrio
North Island Takahe , Porphyrio mantelli - extinct
South Island Takahe , Porphyrio hochstetteri Endangered
Weka (Woodhen), Gallirallus australis Vulnerable
Charadriidae
South Island Oystercatcher , Haematopus finschi
Chatham Oystercatcher , Haematopus chathamensis Endangered
Torea (Variable Oystercatcher), Haematopus unicolor
Ngutuparore (Wrybill), Anarhynchus frontalis , Vulnerable
Kaki (Black Stilt), Himantopus novaezelandiae , Critically endangered
Tuturiwhatu (New Zealand Dotterel), Charadrius obscurus , Vulnerable
Tuturuatu (Shore Plover), Thinornis novaeseelandiae , Endangered
Chatham Islands Snipe , Coenocorypha pusilla Vulnerable
Giant Chatham Island Snipe , Coenocorypha chathamica , Extinct
Hakawai (New Zealand Snipe), Coenocorypha aucklandica
Stewart Island Snipe , Coenocorypha aucklandica iredalei , Extinct
Little Barrier Snipe , Coenocorypha aucklandica barrierensis , Extinct
Huahou (Red Knot), Calidris canutus
Laridae
Sternidae
Taranui (Caspian Tern), Sterna caspia
Tarapiroe (Black-fronted Tern), Chlidonias albostriatus Endangered
Stercorariidae (Hakoakoa)
Arctic Skua , Stercorarius parasiticus (Migratory visitor)
Brown Skua (Subantarctic Skua), Catharacta lonnbergi
Podicipedidae
Australasian Grebe , Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Weweia (New Zealand Dabchick), Poliocephalus rufopectus Endemic Vulnerable
Hoary-headed Grebe , Poliocephalus poliocephalus Rare/Accidental
Great Crested Grebe , Podiceps cristatus
Accipitridae
Eyles' Harrier , Circus eylesi - Extinct
Kahu (Marsh Harrier), Circus approximans
Harpagornis (Haast's Eagle, New Zealand Eagle, Giant Eagle), Harpagornis moorei - Extinct
Chatham Island Sea-Eagle , Haliaeetus australis - Extinct
Falconidae
Karearea (New Zealand Falcon), Falco novaeseelandiae
Strigidae
Whekau (Laughing Owl), Sceloglaux albifacies - Extinct
Ruru (Morepork), Ninox novaeseelandiae
Aegothelidae
New Zealand Owlet-Nightjar , Aegotheles novaezealandiae - Extinct
Cuculidae
Koekoea (Longtailed Cuckoo), Eudynamys taitensis
Acanthisittidae
Matuhi (Bush Wren), Xenicus longipes - extinct
South Island Bush Wren, Xenicus longipes longipes - extinct
North Island Bush Wren, Xenicus longipes stokesi - extinct
Stead's Bush Wren, Xenicus longipes variabilis - extinct
Rock Wren , Xenicus gilviventris
Stephens Island Wren , Traversia lyalli - extinct
Titipounamu (Rifleman), Acanthisitta chloris
Yaldwyn's Wren , Pachyplichas yaldwyni - extinct
Grant-Mackie's Wren , Pachyplichas jagmi - extinct
Corvidae
New Zealand Crow , Palaeocorax moriorum - extinct
Rook , Corvus frugilegus - introduced
Motacillidae
Pihoihoi (New Zealand Pipit), Anthus novaeseelandiae
Sylviidae
Matata (Fernbird), Megalurus punctatus - endemic
Petroicidae
Miromiro (Tomtit), Petroica macrocephala - endemic
Toutouwai (New Zealand Robin), Petroica australis - endemic
Black Robin (Chatham Robin), Petroica traversi - endemic; endangered
Pachycephalidae
Popokotea (Popokatea, Whitehead), Mohoua albicilla - endemic
Mohua (Yellowhead), Mohoua ochrocephala - endemic
Pipipi (Brown Creeper), Mohoua novaeseelandiae - endemic
Acanthizidae
Riroriro (Grey Warbler), Gerygone igata - endemic
Chatham Gerygone , Gerygone albofrontata - endemic
Meliphagidae
Hihi (Stitchbird), Notiomystis cincta - endemic; threatened
Tui (Parson Bird), Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae - endemic
Red Wattlebird , Anthochaera carunculata - rare/accidental
Callaeidae
Kokako , Callaeas cinerea - endemic
North Island Kokako , Callaeas cinerea wilsoni - endemic; endangered
South Island Kokako , Callaeas cinerea cinerea - endemic; probably extinct
Tieke (Saddleback), Philesturnus carunculatus - endemic
North Island Saddleback , Philesturnus carunculatus rufusater - endemic; endangered
South Island Saddleback , Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus - endemic; endangered
Huia , Heteralocha acutirostris - extinct
Pardalotidae
Korimako (New Zealand Bellbird), Anthornis melanura - endemic
Chatham Island Bellbird , Anthornis melanocephala - extinct
Muscicapidae
Piopio , Turnagra capensis - extinct
Chatham Island Fernbird , Bowdleria rufescens - extinct
For a comprehensive listing of families, see Australasian birds , which includes the birds of New Zealand, Australia , and the Southern Ocean .
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