This is the list of the birds of New Zealand.
The North Island and South Island are the two largest islands of New Zealand. Stewart Island is the largest of the smaller islands. New Zealand proper also includes outlying islands such as the Chatham Islands, Kermadec Islands, and New Zealand Subantarctic Islands. Only New Zealand proper is represented on this list, not the Realm of New Zealand. For birds in the associated states or dependent territories, see List of birds of the Cook Islands, List of birds of Niue, List of birds of Tokelau, and List of birds of Antarctica.
Unless noted otherwise, all species listed below occur regularly in New Zealand as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The species marked extinct became extinct subsequent to human arrival in New Zealand. About two thirds of the extinctions occurred after the arrival of Māori but before the arrival of Pākehā (European New Zealanders) and the rest since Pākehā arrived.
The following codes are used to denote other categories of species:
(B) Breeding – confirmed nesting records in New Zealand or a portion thereof, excluding introduced species. (I) Introduced – a species introduced to New Zealand by the actions of humans, either directly or indirectly (X) Extinct – a species that became extinct after human arrival in New Zealand (ex) Extirpated – a species no longer found in New Zealand or a portion thereof but existing elsewhere (P) Regularly occurring in New Zealand or a portion thereof. The species occurs on an annual or mostly annual basis but does not nest in New Zealand. (V) Vagrant – a species rarely occurring in New Zealand or a portion thereof.
The list's taxonomic treatment and nomenclature (common and scientific names) mainly follows the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ retrieved 25 October 2022. Some supplemental referencing is that of the Avibase Bird Checklists of the World as of 2022, and the 4th edition of the Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand, published in 2010 by Te Papa Press in association with the Ornithological Society of New Zealand, which is an authoritative list of the birds of New Zealand.
The species' common name in New Zealand English is given first, and its Māori-language name, if different, is also noted.
Kiwi Order: ApterygiformesFamily: Apterygidae
Kiwi are flightless birds all native to New Zealand. Approximately the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are by far the smallest ratites.
Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty Southern brown kiwi()Apteryx australis B B Okarito kiwi()Apteryx rowi B North Island brown kiwiApteryx mantelli B Little spotted kiwi()Apteryx owenii B B Great spotted kiwi()Apteryx maxima B
Giant moa Order: DinornithiformesFamily: Dinornithidae
The giant moa (Dinornis) is an extinct genus of birds belonging to the moa family. As with other moa, it was a member of the order Dinornithiformes. It was endemic to New Zealand. Two species of Dinornis are considered valid, the North Island giant moa (Dinornis novaezealandiae) and the South Island giant moa (Dinornis robustus). In addition, two further species (new lineage A and lineage B) have been suggested based on distinct DNA lineages.
Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty North Island giant moaDinornis novaezealandiae X South Island giant moaDinornis robustus X X
Lesser moa Order: DinornithiformesFamily: Emeidae
The lesser moa (family Emeidae) were a family of moa. The moa were ratites from New Zealand. About two-thirds of all moa species are in the lesser moa family. Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty Bush moaAnomalopteryx didiformis X X Eastern moaEmeus crassus X Broad-billed moaEuryapteryx curtus X X Heavy-footed moaPachyornis elephantopus X X Mantell's moaPachyornis geranoidesX Crested moaPachyornis australis X
Upland moa Order: DinornithiformesFamily: Megalapterygidae
The upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus) was a species of moa endemic to New Zealand. It was a ratite, a grouping of flightless birds with no keel on the sternum. It was the last moa species to become extinct, vanishing in 1445 CE, and was predominantly found in alpine and sub-alpine environments. Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty Upland moaMegalapteryx didinus X
Ducks, geese, and swans Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are adapted for an aquatic existence, with webbed feet, bills that are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. The Cape Barren goose is also recorded as an escape from captivity in New Zealand which has bred, as well as being a vagrant from Australia as set out in the table below.
Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty Plumed whistling-duckDendrocygna eytoni V V V Greylag gooseAnser anser I I I Canada gooseBranta canadensis V I I V V Cape Barren gooseCereopsis novaehollandiae V V North Island gooseCnemiornis gracilis X South Island gooseCnemiornis calcitrans X Mute swanCygnus olor I I Black swanCygnus atratus I I I New Zealand swan()Cygnus sumnerensisXX Australian shelduckTadorna tadornoides V V V V V V V V Paradise shelduck()Tadorna variegata V B B B V Australian wood duckChenonetta jubata V V Finsch's duckChenonetta finschi X X Blue duck()Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos B B Australasian shoveler()Spatula rhynchotis B B V V V V Northern shovelerSpatula clypeata V V Pacific black duck or grey duck()Anas superciliosa ex B B V V ex ex ex Chatham duckAnas chathamica X Domestic mallardAnas platyrhynchos I I I I I I I I Northern pintailAnas acuta V Grey teal()Anas gracilis B B V V V V V Chestnut tealAnas castanea V V Auckland tealAnas aucklandica B Campbell tealAnas nesiotis B Brown teal()Anas chlorotis B B ex ex Scarlett's duckMalacorhynchus scarletti X X X Pink-eared duckMalacorhynchus membranaceus V HardheadAythya australis V V V New Zealand scaup()Aythya novaeseelandiae B B ex ex New Zealand musk duckBiziura delautouri X X Auckland Island merganserMergus australis X Chatham merganserMergus milleneri X New Zealand stiff-tailed duckOxyura vantetsi X X
Guineafowl Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae
The guineafowl are a family of birds native to Africa. They typically eat insects and seeds, are ground-nesting, and resemble partridges, except with featherless heads.
Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty Helmeted guineafowlNumida meleagris I I I
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.
Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty California quailCallipepla californica I I I
Megapodes Order: GalliformesFamily: Megapodiidae
The megapodes are stocky, medium-large, chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. Their name literally means "large foot" and is a reference to the heavy legs and feet typical of these terrestrial birds. All are browsers, and all but the malleefowl occupy wooded habitats. Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty Kermadec megapodeMegapodius sp. nov. 'Raoul Island' XHume, J.P. (2017) Extinct Birds. Bloomsbury Publishing, 560 pages.Recently Extinct Species
Pheasants and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump, with broad, relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty Indian peafowlPavo cristatus I I Brown quailSynoicus ypsilophorus I New Zealand quail(Māori: koreke)Coturnix novaezelandiae X X Chukar partridgeAlectoris chukar I Red-legged partridgeAlectoris rufa I I Red junglefowlGallus gallus I Common pheasantPhasianus colchicus I I Wild turkeyMeleagris gallopavo I I
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty Australasian grebeTachybaptus novaehollandiae B P Hoary-headed grebePoliocephalus poliocephalus V V V V New Zealand grebePoliocephalus rufopectus B V Great crested grebePodiceps cristatus V B
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty Rock doveColumba livia I I I V V V African collared doveStreptopelia roseogrisea I I Spotted doveStreptopelia chinensis I Rose-crowned fruit dovePtilinopus regina V Kererū or New Zealand pigeonHemiphaga novaeseelandiae B B B Chatham pigeon()Hemiphaga chathamensis B
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty Long-tailed koel()Urodynamis taitensis P B B P P P Channel-billed cuckooScythrops novaehollandiae V V Shining bronze-cuckoo()Chrysococcyx lucidus P B B B B P P Pallid cuckooCacomantis pallidus V V Fan-tailed cuckooCacomantis flabelliformis V V Oriental cuckooCuculus optatus V V V V V
Owlet-nightjars Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Aegothelidae
The owlet-nightjars are a distinctive group of small nocturnal birds related to swifts found from the Maluku Islands and New Guinea to Australia and New Caledonia.
Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty New Zealand owlet-nightjarAegotheles novaezealandiae X X
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty White-throated needletailHirandapus caudacutus P P P P P P Pacific swiftApus pacificus V V V V
Adzebills Order: GruiformesFamily: Aptornithidae
The adzebills, genus Aptornis, were two closely related bird species of the extinct family Aptornithidae.
Species Kermadecs North I South I Stewart Chathams Snares Auckland Campbell Antipodes Bounty North Island adzebillAptornis otidiformis X South Island adzebillAptornis defossor X
Rails Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae