Known for its dawn chorus, the New Zealand bush at one time pulsed with the sound of native birds. Find out what DOC, along with numerous groups and individuals, are doing to protect and restore native bird populations.
The bellbird, unique to New Zealand, is easily recognised by its melodious song. Well camouflaged, the bellbird is usually heard before it is seen.
The recovery of the Chatham Islands black robin from the brink of extinction is an internationally renowned conservation success story.
The critically endangered Chatham Island pigeon or parea is restricted to the Chatham Islands. Although similar in appearance to the New Zealand pigeon, it is around 20% heavier, making it one of the world's heaviest pigeons.
The Chatham Island tūī is a subspecies of the tūī found on mainland New Zealand. It is larger and has longer throat tufts than its mainland counterpart and the song is also significantly different.
Known for its friendly 'cheet cheet' call and energetic flying antics, the aptly named fantail is one of the most common and widely distributed native birds on the New Zealand mainland.
The grey warbler is a relatively inconspicuous grey bird that flits about the canopy of the forest but its call permeates the forest and takes the edge off a hard uphill slog for any attentive tramper.
The kākā is a large parrot belonging to the nestorinae family, a group that includes the kea and the extinct Norfolk Island kākā.
The kākāpō (night parrot) is one of New Zealand's unique treasures and with only 127 known surviving birds - including 11 new chicks born in 2011 - it is listed internationally as a critically endangered species.
The New Zealand kea is an endemic parrot found in the South Island's high country.
Find out about New Zealand's national bird, the flightless and largely nocturnal kiwi.
The kōkako belongs to the endemic New Zealand wattlebirds, an ancient family of birds which includes the North and South Island saddleback and the extinct huia.
The morepork is New Zealand's only surviving native owl. It is known for its haunting, melancholic call.
The North Island robin, also known as toutouwai, is a friendly and trusting bird and is found in both native and exotic forests.
Capable of flying at speeds over 100 km/h and catching prey larger than itself, the NZ falcon/kārearea is one of New Zealand's most spectacular birds.
Kākāriki, meaning 'small green parrot' in Māori, are beautiful forest birds.
New Zealand's native pigeon is the only seed disperser we have. The disappearance of the kererū would be a disaster for our native forests.
The New Zealand robin or toutouwai is a sparrow-sized bird found only in New Zealand. They are friendly and trusting, often coming to within a couple of metres of people.
The saddleback or tīeke belongs to New Zealand's unique wattlebird family, an ancient group which includes the endangered kōkako and the extinct huia.
The silvereye - also known as the wax-eye, or sometimes white eye - is a small olive green forest bird with white rings around its eyes.
The stitchbird/hihi is one of New Zealand's rarest birds.
The flightless takahē is a colourful green and blue bird with an impressive red beak and short stout legs. The takahē are classified as an endangered species.
The New Zealand tomtit (Petroica macrocephala) looks similar to a robin. They are a small bird with a large head, a short bill and tail, and live in forest and scrub.
Tūī are unique (endemic) to New Zealand and belong to the honeyeater family, which means they feed mainly on nectar from flowers of native plants.
The weka is a large, brown flightless bird that has a famously feisty and curious personality.
The whitehead/pōpokotea has a series of clear tuneful calls that fill the forest with a pleasant cacophony of sound when they appear in flocks high in the canopy of the forest.
The mohua/yellowhead is a small, insect eating bird which lives only in the forests of New Zealand's South Island and Stewart Island.
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