Birds of New Zealand
Kiwis
- Brown Kiwi
- North Island Brown Kiwi
- South Island Brown Kiwi
- Stewart Island Brown Kiwi
- Little Spotted Kiwi
- Great Spotted Kiwi
Grebes
- Great Crested Grebe
- Australasian Crested Grebe
- New Zealand Dabchick
- Hoary-headed Grebe
- Eastern Little Grebe
- Australasian Little Grebe
Albatross
- Wandering Albatross
- Royal Albatross
- Southern Royal Albatross
- Northern Royal Albatross
- Black-footed Albatross
- Laysan Albatross
- Sooty Albatross
- Light-mantled Sooty Albatross
Mollymawks
- Black-browed Mollymawk
- New Zealand Black-browed Mollymawk
- White-capped (Shy) Mollymawk
- New Zealand White-capped (Shy) Mollymawk
- Salvin’s Mollymawk
- Chatham Island Mollymawk
- Grey-headed Mollymawk
- Yellow-nosed Mollymawk
- Atlantic Yellow-nosed Mollymawk
- Buller’s Mollymawk
- Southern Buller’s Mollymawk
- Northern Buller’s Mollymawk
Shearwaters
- North Atlantic Shearwater
- North Atlantic (Cory’s) Shearwater
- Pink-footed Shearwater
- Flesh-footed Shearwater
- Wedge-tailed Shearwater
- Wedge-tailed Shearwater
- Wedge-tailed Shearwater
- Buller’s Shearwater
- Sooty Shearwater (Muttonbird),
- Short-tailed Shearwater (Tasmanian Muttonbird)
- Christmas Island Shearwater
- Manx Shearwater
- Manx Shearwater
- Newell’s Shearwater
- Fluttering Shearwater
- Hutton’s Shearwater
- Little Shearwater
- Norfolk Island Little Shearwater
- Kermadec Little Shearwater
- North Island Little Shearwater
- Subantarctic Little Shearwater
Petrels
- Common Diving Petrel
- Subantarctic Diving Petrel
- South Georgian Diving Petrel
- Grey Petrel
- Black (Parkinson’s) Petrel
- Westland Petrel
- White-chinned Petrel (Shoemaker)
- White-chinned Petrel
- Bulwer’s Petrel
- Tahiti Petrel
- Kerguelen Petrel
- Snow Petrel
- Greater Snow Petrel
- Lesser Snow Petrel
- Cape Pigeon
- Cape Pigeon
- Snares Cape Pigeon
- Antarctic Petrel
- Antarctic Fulmar
- Southern Giant Petrel
- Northern Giant Petrel
- Fairy Prion
- Fulmar Prion
- Fulmar Prion
- Chatham Fulmar Prion
- Thin-billed Prion
- Antarctic Prion
- Antarctic (Kerguelen) Prion
- Antarctic Prion
- Salvin’s Prion
- Salvin’s Prion
- Broad-billed Prion
- Blue Petrel
- Stejneger’s Petrel
- Pycroft’s Petrel
- Gould’s Petrel
- New Caledonian Petrel
- Cook’s Petrel (Titi)
- Black-winged Petrel
- Chatham Petrel
- Mottled Petrel
- White-naped Petrel
- White-naped Petrel
- Juan Fernandez Petrel
- Phoenix Petrel
- Kermadec Petrel
- Kermadec Petrel
- Providence Petrel
- Great-winged Petrel
- Grey-faced Petrel (Oi)
- Magenta Petrel (Chatham Island Taiko)
- White-headed Petrel
- Soft-plumaged Petrel
- Leach’s Storm Petrel
- Wilson’s Storm Petrel
- Wilson’s Storm Petrel
- Grey-backed Storm Petrel
- White-faced Storm Petrel
- Australian White-faced Storm Petrel
- New Zealand White-faced Storm Petrel
- Kermadec Storm Petrel
- Black-bellied Storm Petrel
- White-bellied Storm Petrel
- White-bellied Storm Petrel
Penguin
- Emperor Penguin
- King Penguin
- Yellow-eyed Penguin
- Gentoo Penguin
- Northern Gentoo Penguin
- Adélie Penguin
- Chinstrap (Ringed) Penguin
- Blue Penguin
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Western Rockhopper Penguin
- Eastern Rockhopper Penguin
- Moseley’s Rockhopper Penguin
- Macaroni Penguin
- Macaroni Penguin
- Royal Penguin
- Fiordland Crested Penguin
- Snares Crested Penguin
- Erect-crested Penguin
- Magellanic Penguin
Tropicbird
- Red-tailed Tropicbird
- White-tailed Tropicbird
- White-tailed Tropicbird
Pelican
- Australian Pelican
- New Zealand Pelican
Gannet
- Cape Gannet
- Australasian Gannet
Booby
- Brown Booby
- Masked (Blue-faced) Booby
- Masked (Blue-faced) Booby
Shag
- Black Shag
- Pied Shag (Pied Cormorant)
- Little Black Shag (Little Black Cormorant)
- Little Shag (Little Pied Cormorant)
- Little Shag
- New Zealand King Shag
- Stewart Island Shag, Bronze Shag
- Chatham Island Shag
- Bounty Island Shag
- Auckland Island Shag
- Campbell Island Shag
- Imperial/Blue-eyed/King Shag
- Macquarie Island Shag
- Spotted Shag
- Blue Shag
- Pitt Island Shag
Darter
- Darter
Frigatebird
- Greater Frigatebird
- Lesser Frigatebird
Heron
- White-faced Heron
- White-necked Heron
- Great White Heron (Great Egret)
- White Heron (White Egret)
- Little Egret
- Intermediate Egret (Plumed Egret)
- Reef Heron
- Reef Heron (Blue Heron)
- Cattle Egret
- Nankeen Night Heron
Bittern
- Australasian Bittern
- New Zealand Little Bittern
- Little Bittern
- Australian Little Bittern
Ibis
- Glossy Ibis
- White Ibis
- Australian White Ibis
Spoonbill
- Royal Spoonbill
- Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Ducks, Swans, and Geese
- Grass Plumed Whistling Duck
- Mute (White) Swan
- Black Swan
- Canada Goose
- Cape Barren Goose
- Paradise Shelduck
- Chestnut-breasted Shelduck
- Australian Wood Duck
- Blue Duck
- Mallard
- Grey Duck
- Grey Teal
- Chestnut Teal
- Brown Teal
- Auckland Island Teal (Flightless Duck)
- Campbell Island Teal
- Australasian Shoveler
- New Zealand Shoveler
- Northern Shoveler
- Northern Pintail
- Pink-eared Duck
- White-eyed Duck (Hardhead)
- New Zealand Scaup
- Auckland Island Merganser
- Blue-billed duck
Birds of Prey
- Black Kite
- Australasian Harrier
- Extinct Harrier
- Extinct Chatham Island Sea Eagle
- Extinct New Zealand Eagle
- New Zealand Falcon
- Nankeen Kestrel
- Black Falcon
Game Birds
- California Quail
- Bobwhite Quail
- Red-legged Partridge
- Chukor
- Grey Partridge
- New Zealand Quail
- Brown Quail
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Peafowl
- Wild Turkey
- Tufted Guineafowl
Rail
- Banded Rail
- Macquarie Island Banded Rail
- Dieffenbach’s Rail
- Chatham Island Rail
- Lewin’s Rail
- Auckland Island Rail
- North Island Weka
- Western Weka
- Buff Weka
- Stewart Island Weka
- New Zealand Snipe-rail
- Giant Chatham Island Rail
- Spotless Crake
- Marsh Crake
- Black-tailed Native-hen
- Dusky Moorhen
- Hodgen’s Rail
- Purple Gallinule/ Purple Swamphen
- Pukeko
- North Island Takahe
- South Island Takahe
- Eurasian Coot
- Australian Coot
- Chatham Island Coot
- New Zealand Coot
- North Island Aptornis
- South Island Aptornis
Crane
- Brolga
Snipe
- Painted Snipe
Oystercatcher
- Pied Oystercatcher
- South Island Pied Oystercatcher
- Variable Oystercatcher
- Chatham Island Pied Oystercatcher
Stilt
- Pied Stilt
- Australasian Pied Stilt
- Black Stilt
Avocet
- Australian Red-necked Avocet
Pratincole
- Oriental Pratincole
Dotterel
- New Zealand Dotterel
- Banded Dotterel
- Auckland Island Banded Dotterel
- Red-capped Dotterel
- Black-fronted Dotterel
- Large Sand Dotterel
- Mongolian Dotterel
- Mongolian Dotterel
- Tibetan Dotterel
- Oriental Dotterel
- Red-kneed Dotterel
Plover
- Ringed Plover
- Shore Plover
- Pacific Golden Plover
- American Golden Plover
- Grey Plover
- Masked Plover
- Spur-winged Plover
- Wrybill
Turnstone
- Turnstone
Snipe
- New Zealand Snipe
- Auckland Island Snipe
- Snares Island Snipe
- Stewart Island Snipe
- Antipodes Island Snipe
- Little Barrier Snipe
- Chatham Island Snipe
- Extinct Chatham Island Snipe
- Japanese Snipe
Sandpiper
- Lesser Knot
- Great Knot
- Sanderling
- Dunlin
- Curlew Sandpiper
- harp-tailed Sandpiper
- Pectoral Sandpiper
- Baird’s Sandpiper
- White-rumped Sandpiper
- Western Sandpiper
- Stilt Sandpiper
- Broad-billed Sandpiper
- Eastern Broad-billed Sandpiper
Stint
- Little Stint
- Long-toed Stint
- Red-necked Stint
- Ruff
- Asiatic Dowitcher
Curlews Godwits & Shanks
- Eastern Curlew
- Whimbrel
- Asiatic Whimbrel
- American Whimbrel (Hudsonian Curlew)
- Little Whimbrel
- Bristle-thighed Curlew
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Eastern Bar-tailed Godwit
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Asiatic Black-tailed Godwit
- Hudsonian Godwit
- Upland Sandpiper
- Wandering (Alaskan) Tattler
- Siberian (Grey-tailed) Tattler
- Common Sandpiper
- Greenshank
- Marsh Sandpiper
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Terek Sandpiper
Phalarope
- Grey (Red) Phalarope
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Wilson’s Phalarope
Skuas
- Great Skua
- Brown (Subantarctic) Skua
- South Polar Skua
- Arctic Skua
- Pomarine Skua
- Long-tailed Skua
Gulls
- Southern Black-backed Gull
- Red-billed Gull
- Black-billed Gull
- Franklin’s Gull
Turns
- Whiskered Tern
- White-winged Black Tern
- Gull-billed Tern
- Black-fronted Tern
- Caspian Tern
- White-fronted Tern
- Sooty Tern
- Antarctic Tern
- New Zealand Antarctic Tern
- Fairy Tern
- New Zealand Fairy Tern
- Little Tern
- Eastern Little Tern
- Arctic Tern
- Crested Tern
- Common Tern
- Eastern Common Tern
- Bridled (Brown-winged) Tern
Noddies
- Common Noddy
- Lesser Noddy
- White-capped Noddy
- Blue-grey Noddy
- Grey Ternlet
- White Tern
Pigeons
- New Zealand Pigeon
- Chatham Island Pigeon
- Rock Pigeon
- Barbary Dove
- Spotted Dove
- Spotted Dove
Cockatoo
- Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Parrots
- Kakapo
- North Island Kaka
- South Island Kaka
- Kea
Rosella
- Crimson Rosella
- Eastern Rosella
Parakeet
- Antipodes Island Parakeet
- Red-crowned Parakeet
- Kermadec Parakeet
- Red-crowned Parakeet
- Chatham Island Red-crowned Parakeet
- Reischek’s Parakeet
- Macquarie Island Parakeet
- Yellow-crowned Parakeet
- Forbes’ Parakeet
Cuckoo
- Oriental Cuckoo
- Pallid Cuckoo
- Fan-tailed Cuckoo
- Shining Cuckoo
- Pacific Koel
- Long-tailed Cuckoo
- Channel-billed Cuckoo
Owl
- Morepork
- Laughing Owl
- North Island Laughing Owl
- South Island Laughing Owl
- Little Owl
- Barn Owl
- Australian Barn Owl
Nightjars
- New Zealand Owlet-nightjar
Swift
- Spine-tailed Swift
- Fork-tailed Swift
Kingfisher
- Sacred Kingfisher
- New Zealand Kingfisher
- Kookaburra
Rollers
- Dollarbird
Wren
- North Island Rifleman
- South Island Rifleman
- North Island Bush Wren
- South Island Bush Wren
- Stead’s Bush Wren
- Rock Wren
- Stephens Island Wren
- South Island Stout-legged Wren
- North Island Stout-legged Wren
Larks
- Skylark
Swallows
- Welcome Swallow
- Australian Tree Martin
- Australian Tree Martin
- Fairy Martin
Pipits
- Richard’s/Australian/New Zealand Pipit
- New Zealand Pipit
- Chatham Island Pipit
- Auckland Island Pipit
- Antipodes Island Pipit
Cuckoo-shrikes
- Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
- Australian White-winged Triller
Bulbuls
- Red-vented Bulbul
Accentors
- Hedge Sparrow
Thrushes
- Blackbird
- Song Thrush
Old World Warblers
- North Island Fernbird
- South Island Fernbird
- Stewart Island Fernbird
- Codfish Island Fernbird
- Snares Island Fernbird
- Chatham Island Fernbird
Whistlers
- Whitehead
- Yellowhead
- Brown Creeper
Australasian Warblers
- Grey Warbler
- Chatham Island Warbler
Flycatchers
- Black-faced Monarch
- Satin Flycatcher
- Grey/New Zealand Fantail
- North Island Fantail
- South Island Fantail
- Chatham Island Fantail
- Willie Wagtail
Australasian Robins
- New Zealand Tomtit
- North Island Tomtit
- South Island Tomtit
- Chatham Island Tomtit
- Snares Island Tomtit
- Auckland Island Tomtit
- New Zealand Robin
- North Island Robin
- South Island Robin
- Stewart Island Robin
- Black Robin
White eyes
- Silvereye
Honey Eaters
- Stitchbird (Hihi)
- Three Kings Bellbird
- Poor Knights Bellbird
- Bellbird
- Chatham Island Bellbird
- Tui
- Chatham Island Tui
- Red Wattlebird
Buntings
- Yellowhammer
- Cirl Bunting
Finch
- Chaffinch
- Greenfinch
- Goldfinch
- Redpoll
Weaverbirds
- House Sparrow
Starlings
- Starling
- Common Myna
New Zealand Wattlebirds
- North Island Kokako
- South Island Kokako
- North Island Saddleback
- South Island Saddleback
- Huia
Woodswallows
- Masked Woodswallow
- White-browed Woodswallow
Magpie
- Australian Magpie
Piopios
- North Island Piopio
- South Island Piopio
Crows
- Rook
- Extinct New Zealand Crow
The best places to spot birds near Auckland.
- Tiritiri Matangi Island – Bird Sanctuary accessible by Ferry from Auckland CBD, a great day trip.
- Miranda – A short drive to Auckland’s South East Coast sees huge flocks of migratory shore birds (seasonal). Book accommodation in Miranda
- Shakespeare Regional Park – Pest proof fenced bird sanctuary with wild Kiwi.
- Little Barrier Island. Permit required to visit this offshore Sanctuary
- Great Barrier Island – A long ferry ride Allow 2 or more days if you plan on visiting.
- Rotoroa Island – Bird Sanctuary with holiday homes for rent. 1 hour by Ferry from the CBD. Great for an overnight visit. See Kiwi in the wild.
- Kawau Island – Beautiful Island teaming with birds including Kiwi. Accessible by ferry from Sandspit, 1 hours drive from Auckland CBD then 1/2 hour ferry. A great day trip.
- Moturoa Island – An island sanctuary accessible by private boat or water taxi. (No Ferry) Great Campground and lots of Kiwi.
- Motuihe Island Another Island Sanctuary near Auckland. A short ferry from the CBD. Great for a day trip but camping is allowed. There’s Kiwi on this Island too.
- Muriwai Gannet Colony – Gannets, gannets and more gannets. This is a large gannet colony 1 hours drive from Auckland CBD.
- Tawharanui Open Sanctuary – 1 hour north of Auckland, see a variety of Native birds including Kiwi.
Events for Bird Nerds
Meet other ornithologists at the NZ Birding Conference, and other regional Birding events.
Bird of the Year Winners
2019 – Yellow Eyed Penguin
2018 – Kereru
2017 – Kea
2016 – Kokako
2015 – Bar-tailed Godwit
Learn more about “bird of the year“
Where to see Kiwi in Auckland
The best places to see Kiwi in Auckland Motuihe Island – Take the ferry to Motuihe Island and camp overnight. Use a red light torch to spot kiwi. Rotoroa Island – Take the ferry to Rotoroa Island, stay overnight in either the bunkhouse or one of the houses available for rent. (there’s 4 owned by…