Australasian bittern/matuku
The Australasian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus), or matuku as it is known to Maori, is a large, heron-sized bird.
It inhabits wetlands throughout New Zealand, but is rarely seen because of its secretive behaviour and excellent camouflage. It is most active at dawn, dusk and through the night.
Matuku has declined dramatically since humans began draining wetlands and is now classed globally as endangered.
Did you know there are fewer than 1000 Australasian bittern/matuku left? Learn more facts about these endangered birds in this section.
Find out what threatens the survival of the Australasian bittern/matuku.
DOC's focus is on developing methods for surveying populations and restoring wetlands.
Find out what you can do to help the protection and recovery of Australasian bittern/matuku.
Tree planting for attracting native birds
Threatened species classifications
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Birds of prey - Te Ara Encyclopedia of NZ
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