The Māori name ‘tīeke ‘ relates to the sound of their common call: ti-e-ke-ke-ke-ke
The Māori name ‘tīeke ‘ relates to the sound of their common call: ti-e-ke-ke-ke-ke Member of wattlebird family – relatives of kōkako and (extinct) huia Despite mainly eating insects, tīeke also eat fruit and nectar, dispersing seeds and pollinating flowers …
The “sulphur” in their name refers to the bright yellow plumage on their crest and feathers
As part of the parrot family, sulphur crested cockatoos have the same defining features – a long curved beak, strong legs and zygodactyl feet, which means they have two toes facing forwards and two facing backwards. This allows them to climb exceptionally …
One of the most familiar sounds in our night forests is the haunting call of the ruru, or morepork
One of the most familiar sounds in our night forests is the haunting call of the ruru, or morepork The morepork is a silent hunter. Its soft wing feathers make no sound as it swoops down on its prey. Its head turns almost in a complete circle, and with …
Red-tailed black cockatoo
Males and female red-tailed black cockatoos can be distinguished by the splashes of colour on their tail feathers – red panels in males, and yellow-orange bars in females. These cockatoos have zygodactyl feet, two toes facing forward and two backwards, …
The little penguin (kororā) is the smallest penguin in the world, standing just 25cm tall and weighing a little over 1kg
The little penguin (kororā) is the smallest penguin in the world, standing just 25cm tall and weighing a little over 1kg. Little penguin populations are declining in areas that aren’t protected from predators. Where predator control is in place, populations …
Monitoring threats to KEA in Mt Aspiring National Park
Kea ( Nestor notabilis ) are the only mountain parrot species in the world and are listed as Nationally Endangered, numbering fewer than 5,000 individuals in the wild. Threats include introduced mammalian predators, lead poisoning, and accidents with …
Macaws have a distinctive and extremely loud, raucous screech
At 85cm tall and about 1.5kg in weight, they are considered to be one of the world’s largest parrots. Living in flocks of up to 30 birds, this bird has a massive hinged beak and zygodactyl toes (two toes pointing forwards and two facing backwards) allowing …
Is it a bird? Kiwi bird tendencies and adaptations are so odd, that they don’t characteristically resemble a bird
Is it a bird? Kiwi bird tendencies and adaptations are so odd, that they don’t characteristically resemble a bird. Kiwi are nocturnal, yet their eyesight is very poor when compared to other nocturnal birds. They sleep in their burrow during the day and …
It’s fairly easy to spot the difference between male and female ostriches
Get your head out of the sand It’s fairly easy to spot the difference between male and female ostriches. Male ostriches are black with white feathers on the tips of their wings and tail, while females are grey-brown. But why is that? It is thought that …
The New Zealand wood pigeon is a large endemic bird also known in Te Reo Māori as the kererū, or kūkupa and kūku in Northland.
The New Zealand wood pigeon is a large endemic bird also known in Te Reo Māori as the kererū, or kūkupa and kūku in Northland. In Te Wao Nui, our sanctuary for native New Zealand species, we have three kererū in our Forest aviary – Rui, Rata and Tawa. …