New Zealand is famous for its land birds like the kiwi and kākāpō. But just as remarkable and unique are the seabirds. More than a third of the 80 or so species of seabirds that breed in New Zealand are endemic, or found nowhere else.
Albatrosses are the world's largest flying seabirds. They spend at least 85% of their lives at sea returning to land (usually remote islands) to breed and raise their young.
New Zealand's only endemic gull is found mainly on braided rivers in the South Island.
This black and white wader is unique to the Chatham Islands. It is an endangered species with a high risk of extinction due to its very small population and range
The tāiko is one of the world's rarest seabirds, and nest in long burrows under forest cover.
Once widespread on the Chatham Islands, the Chatham petrel was until recently restricted to Rangatira Island but active management has allowed the population to grow on other islands.
The nationally vulnerable Hutton's shearwater is the only seabird globally to breed in a sub-alpine environment.
The shell banks of Pūkorokoro, New Zealand, attract thousands of migratory birds each year and make for fantastic bird viewing.
The endangered New Zealand dotterel is found only in this country.
Penguins are a unique group of flightless seabirds that are at home on land and in the sea. New Zealand has more penguin species on our shores than any other country.
Tara iti/New Zealand fairy tern is the rarest breeding bird in Aotearoa.
The Westland petrel (tāiko) is endemic to New Zealand and breeds only on the West Coast of the South Island.
The Whenua Hou diving petrel/kuaka is New Zealand’s 'newest' bird species, being only described as recently as 2018. The species only breeds on Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) and is Threatened-Nationally Critical.