Common NZ Native Birds

Tui
Bellbird
Morepork – NZ owl
Kereru – wood pigeon
Cuckoo – shining & long tailed
Kingfisher
Grey warbler
Rifleman
Warbler
Whitehead
Tom Tit
Fantail
Silver eye
North island robin

Tui are the boisterous, common bird of forest & suburbia. They play a very important role in the dynamics of NZ forests because they are one of the most common pollinators of flowering plants, & also disperse the seeds of trees with medium-sized fruits.

Morepork can be found in both native & plantation forest. Birds that appear to be calling together in a ‘duet’ are usually rival males duelling.

For kereru ripe fruit seems to be the preferred food, in most regions fruit is not available year round, & so kereru then feed on leaves. Important leaf sources include those of kowhai, tree lucerne, broom, willows, elms and poplars.