New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 has a high percentage of endemic birds. Eighty seven percent of all taxa are endemic

Endemic (ecology)

Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...

.

Endemic Bird Areas

Birdlife International

BirdLife International

BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...

 has defined the following Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs) in New Zealand:

• Auckland Islands
  Auckland Islands
  The Auckland Islands are an archipelago of the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands and include Auckland Island, Adams Island, Enderby Island, Disappointment Island, Ewing Island, Rose Island, Dundas Island and Green Island, with a combined area of...
  
  
• Chatham Islands
  Chatham Islands
  The Chatham Islands are an archipelago and New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean consisting of about ten islands within a radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island. Their name in the indigenous language, Moriori, means Misty Sun...
  
  
• North Island
  North Island
  The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
  
   of New Zealand
• South Island
  South Island
  The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
  
   of New Zealand

In addition the following are classified as secondary areas:

• Antipodes Islands
  Antipodes Islands
  The Antipodes Islands are inhospitable volcanic islands to the south of—and territorially part of—New Zealand...
  
  
• Snares Islands and Stewart Island/Rakiura
  Stewart Island/Rakiura
  Stewart Island/Rakiura is the third-largest island of New Zealand. It lies south of the South Island, across Foveaux Strait. Its permanent population is slightly over 400 people, most of whom live in the settlement of Oban.- History and naming :...
  
   islets

Secondary areas have at least one restricted-range bird species, but do not meet the criteria for EBAs.

List of species

The following is a list of bird species endemic to New Zealand, along with their conservation status

Conservation status

The conservation status of a group of organisms indicates whether the group is still extant and how likely the group is to become extinct in the near future...

:

• Antipodes Island Parakeet
  Antipodes Island Parakeet
  The Antipodes Parakeet or Antipodes Island Parakeet is endemic to the Antipodes Islands, one of two parrot species found on the islands. It is the largest species in the genus Cyanoramphus at 30 cm long...
  
  - Vulnerable
• Auckland Island Shag- Vulnerable
• Banded Dotterel- Least concern
• Black Robin
  Black Robin
  The Black Robin or Chatham Island Robin is an endangered bird from the Chatham Islands off the east coast of New Zealand. It is closely related to the New Zealand Robin . It was first described by Walter Buller in 1872. The binomial commemorates the New Zealand botanist Henry H. Travers...
  
  - Endangered
• Black Stilt (Kaki)
  Black Stilt
  The Black Stilt or Kakī , Himantopus novaezelandiae, is a large wader in the avocet and stilt family Recurvirostridae. The species is endemic to New Zealand. Adults are 40 cm long. They have very long red legs, a long thin black bill and black plumage...
  
  - Critically endangered
• Black-billed Gull
  Black-billed Gull
  The Black-billed Gull is a species of gull in the Laridae family.It is endemic to New Zealand. As is the case with many gulls, it has traditionally been placed in the genus Larus, but is now considered to be the genus Chroicocephalus...
  
  - Endangered
• Black-fronted Tern
  Black-fronted Tern
  The Black-fronted Tern also known as Sea Martin, Ploughboy, Inland Tern, Riverbed Tern or Tarapiroe, is a small tern generally found in or near bodies of fresh water in New Zealand and forages for freshwater fish, arthropods and worms. It has a predominantly grey plumage...
  
  - Endangered
• Blue Duck (Whio)
  Blue Duck
  The Blue Duck is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae endemic to New Zealand. It is the only member of the genus Hymenolaimus, placed in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae after previously being considered part of the paraphyletic "perching duck" assemblage...
  
  - Endangered
• Bounty Island Shag
  Bounty Island Shag
  The Bounty Shag , also known as the Bounty Island Shag, is a species of bird in the Phalacrocoracidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. Its natural habitats are open seas and rocky shores.-References:...
  
  - Vulnerable
• Brown Teal
  Brown Teal
  The Brown Teal or New Zealand Teal, is a species of dabbling duck of the genus Anas. The Māori name for it is Pāteke. It was considered to be conspecific with the flightless Auckland and Campbell Teals in Anas aucklandica; the name "Brown Teal" was applied to that entire taxon...
  
  - Endangered
• Campbell Island Shag
  Campbell Island Shag
  The Campbell Shag , also known as the Campbell Island Shag, is a species of bird in the Phalacrocoracidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. Its natural habitats are open seas and rocky shores.-References:...
  
  - Vulnerable
• Campbell Snipe
• Chatham Island Oystercatcher
  Chatham Island Oystercatcher
  The Chatham Oystercatcher or Chatham Island Oystercatcher, Haematopus chathamensis, is a species of oystercatcher. It is a wading bird endemic to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand....
  
  - Endangered
• Chatham Island Shag
  Chatham Island Shag
  The Chatham Shag , also known as the Chatham Island Shag, is a species of bird in the Phalacrocoracidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand....
  
  - Critically endangered
• Chatham Island Snipe
  Chatham Island Snipe
  The Chatham Snipe or Chatham Island Snipe is a species of wader in the Scolopacidae family.It is endemic to the Chatham Islands of New Zealand.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and temperate grassland.-References:...
  
  - Vulnerable
• Chatham Island Warbler
  Chatham Island Warbler
  The Chatham Gerygone or Chatham Island Warbler is a species of bird in the Acanthizidae family.It is endemic to the Chatham Islands.Its natural habitat is temperate forests.-References:...
  
  - Least concern
• Fernbird (Matata)
  Fernbird
  The Fernbird is an insectivorous bird endemic to New Zealand. The Māori names are Kōtātā or Mātātā. It is a rich brown above and white below, with brown spots on both the throat and breast. Early settlers called it the "Swamp Sparrow" no doubt because of its colouration. The tail feathers are...
  
  - Least concern
• Fiordland Crested Penguin (Tawaki)- Vulnerable
• Great Spotted Kiwi
  Great Spotted Kiwi
  The Great Spotted Kiwi, Great Gray Kiwi, or Roroa, Apteryx haastii, is a species of kiwi endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. The Great Spotted Kiwi, as a member of the Ratites, is flightless. It is the largest of the kiwi...
  
  - Vulnerable
• Grey Warbler (Riroriro)
  Grey Warbler
  The Grey Gerygone , more commonly known in New Zealand as the Grey Warbler or Riroriro, is a species of insectivorous bird in the Acanthizidae family endemic to New Zealand.Its natural habitat is temperate forests....
  
  - Least concern
• Kaka
  Kaka
  The New Zealand Kaka, also known as Kākā, is a New Zealand parrot endemic to the native forests of New Zealand.-Description:...
  
  - Endangered
• Kakapo
  Kakapo
  The Kakapo , Strigops habroptila , also called owl parrot, is a species of large, flightless nocturnal parrot endemic to New Zealand...
  
  - Critically endangered
• Kea
  Kea
  The Kea is a large species of parrot found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand. About long, it is mostly olive-green with a brilliant orange under its wings and has a large narrow curved grey-brown upper beak. The Kea is the world's only alpine parrot...
  
  - Vulnerable
• New Zealand Pigeon (Kereru)
  Kereru
  The New Zealand Pigeon or kererū is a bird endemic to New Zealand. Māori call it Kererū in most of the country but kūkupa and kūkū in some parts of the North Island, particularly in Northland...
  
  - Near threatened
• King Shag
  King Shag
  The Rough-faced Shag , also known as New Zealand King Shag or King Shag, is a rare bird endemic to New Zealand.- Description :...
  
  - Vulnerable
• Kokako
  Kokako
  The Kōkako is a forest bird which is endemic to New Zealand. It is slate-grey with wattles and a black mask. It is one of three species of New Zealand Wattlebird, the other two being the endangered Tieke and the extinct Huia...
  
  - Endangered
• Little Spotted Kiwi
  Little Spotted Kiwi
  The Little Spotted Kiwi or Little Gray Kiwi, Apteryx owenii, is a small species of kiwi originally from New Zealand's South Island that, around 1890 and 1910 was captured and later released on Kapiti Island...
  
  - Near threatened
• Long-tailed Cuckoo (Koekoea)
  Long-tailed Cuckoo
  The Long-tailed Cuckoo , also known as the Long-tailed Koel or the Koekoeā in Māori, is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family...
  
  - Least concern
• Bellbird (Korimako)
  New Zealand Bellbird
  The New Zealand Bellbird , also known by its Māori names Korimako or Makomako, is a passerine bird endemic to New Zealand. It has greenish colouration and is the only living member of the genus Anthornis. The bellbird forms a significant component of the famed New Zealand dawn chorus of bird song...
  
  - Least concern
• New Zealand Dotterel
  New Zealand Dotterel
  The New Zealand Dotterel, Red-breasted Plover, or New Zealand Plover is an endangered species found only in certain areas of New Zealand. Its Māori names include Tūturiwhatu, Pukunui, and Kūkuruatu...
  
  - Endangered
• Falcon (Karearea)- Near threatened
• New Zealand Grebe (Weweia)- Vulnerable
• Pipit (Pihoihoi)- Least concern
• Robin (Toutouwai)
  New Zealand Robin
  The New Zealand Robin or Toutouwai , Petroica australis, is a sparrow-sized bird found only in New Zealand, where it has the status of a protected endemic species. The birds are sparsely distributed through South Island and Stewart Island/Rakiura, although the distribution is not continuous...
  
  - Least concern
• New Zealand Scaup
  New Zealand Scaup
  The New Zealand Scaup commonly known as a Black teal, is a diving duck species of the genus Aythya. It is endemic to New Zealand. In Maori commonly known as papango, also matapouri, titiporangi, raipo .-Description:...
  
  - Least concern
• North Island Brown Kiwi
  North Island Brown Kiwi
  The North Island Brown Kiwi, Apteryx mantelli, Apteryx australis or Apteryx bulleri before 2000 , is a species of kiwi that is widespread in the northern two-thirds of the North Island of New Zealand and, with about 35000 remaining, is the most common kiwi.-Taxonomy:Until 2000, the Brown Kiwi was...
  
  - Endangered
• Okarito Brown Kiwi
  Okarito Brown Kiwi
  The Okarito Kiwi, Apteryx rowi, also known as the Rowi or Okarito Brown Kiwi, is a member of the Kiwi family Apterygidae, described as new to science in 2003. The species is part of the Brown Kiwi complex, and is morphologically very similar to other members of that complex...
  
  - Critically endangered
• Orange-crowned Parakeet (Kakariki)- Critically endangered
• Paradise Shelduck
  Paradise Shelduck
  The Paradise Shelduck is a large goose-like duck endemic to New Zealand. They are known to the Māori as Pūtangitangi but now commonly referred to as the "Paradise duck", and are prized game birds...
  
  - Least concern
• Brown Creeper (Pipipi)- Least concern
• Pitt Island Shag
  Pitt Island Shag
  The Pitt Shag , also known as the Pitt Island Shag or Featherstone's Shag is a species of bird in the Phalacrocoracidae family. It is endemic to New Zealand. Its natural habitats are open seas and rocky shores. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* BirdLife International 2006....
  
  - Endangered
• Rock Wren (Piwauwau)- Vulnerable
• Red-billed Gull
  Red-billed Gull
  The Red-billed Gull , once also known as the Mackerel Gull, is a native of New Zealand, being found throughout the country and on outlying islands including the Chatham Islands and Sub-antarctic islands.The Māori name of this species is Tarapunga or Akiaki...
  
  - Least concern
• Red-fronted Parakeet (Kakariki)- Vulnerable
• Rifleman (Titipounamu)
  Rifleman (bird)
  The Rifleman is a small insectivorous passerine bird that is endemic to New Zealand. It belongs to the Acanthisittidae family, also known as the New Zealand wrens, of which it is one of only two surviving species...
  
  - Least concern
• Shore Plover
  Shore Plover
  The Shore Dotterel or Shore Plover is a small species of Plover endemic to New Zealand. Its Māori name is Tuturuatu....
  
  - Endangered
• Snares Snipe
  Snares Snipe
  The Snares Snipe , also known as the Snares Island Snipe or Tutukiwi in Maori, is a species of bird in the Scolopacidae, or sandpiper family.-Taxonomy and etymology:...
  
  
• Southern Brown Kiwi- Vulnerable
• Spotted Shag (Parekareka)
  Spotted Shag
  The Spotted Shag or Parekareka, Phalacrocorax punctatus, is a species of cormorant endemic to New Zealand. Originally classified as Phalacrocorax punctatus, it is sufficiently different in appearance from typical members of that genus that to be for a time placed in a separate genus, Stictocarbo,...
  
  - Least concern
• Stewart Island Shag
  Stewart Island Shag
  The Bronze Shag , also known as the Stewart Island Shag or Stewart Shag, is a species of shag endemic to the southernmost parts of the South Island of New Zealand, from the Otago Peninsula south to the Foveaux Strait, and to Stewart Island/Rakiura, from which it takes its name.The species is...
  
  - Vulnerable
• Stitchbird (Hihi)
  Stitchbird
  The Stitchbird or Hihi is a rare honeyeater-like bird endemic to the North Island and adjacent offshore islands of New Zealand. It became extirpated everywhere except Little Barrier Island but has been reintroduced to three other island sanctuaries and two locations on the North Island mainland...
  
  - Vulnerable
• Subantarctic Snipe- Near threatened
• Takahe
  Takahe
  The Takahē or South Island Takahē, Porphyrio hochstetteri is a flightless bird indigenous to New Zealand and belonging to the rail family. It was thought to be extinct after the last four known specimens were taken in 1898...
  
  - Endangered
• Saddleback (Tieke)
  Tieke
  The Saddleback or Tieke is a previously rare and endangered New Zealand bird of the family Callaeidae. It is glossy black with a chestnut saddle. Its taxonomic family is also known as that of the "wattlebirds" and includes the two subspecies of the Kokako as well as the extinct Huia...
  
  - Near threatened
• Tomtit (Miromiro)
  Tomtit
  The Tomtit, Petroica macrocephala, is a small passerine bird in the family Petroicidae, the Australian robins. It is endemic to the islands of New Zealand, ranging across the main islands as well as several of the outlying islands. It has several other English names as well. There are several...
  
  - Least concern
• Tui
  Tui (bird)
  The tui is an endemic passerine bird of New Zealand. It is one of the largest members of the diverse honeyeater family....
  
  - Least concern
• Variable Oystercatcher
  Variable Oystercatcher
  The Variable Oystercatcher is a species of wader in the Haematopodidae family.It is endemic to New Zealand. The Maori name is torea-pango. They are also known as 'red bills'....
  
  - Least concern
• Weka
  Weka
  The Weka or woodhen is a flightless bird species of the rail family. It is endemic to New Zealand, where four subspecies are recognized. Weka are sturdy brown birds, about the size of a chicken. As omnivores, they feed mainly on invertebrates and fruit...
  
  - Vulnerable
• Whitehead (Popokatea)
  Whitehead (bird)
  The Whitehead or Pōpokotea is a small species of passerine bird endemic to New Zealand...
  
  - Least concern
• Wrybill
  Wrybill
  The Wrybill or Ngutuparore Anarhynchus frontalis is a species of plover endemic to New Zealand. It is unique in that it is the only species of bird in the world with a beak that is bent sideways ....
  
  - Vulnerable
• Yellow-crowned Parakeet (Kakariki)
  Yellow-crowned Parakeet
  The Yellow-crowned Parakeet, Cyanoramphus auriceps, is a species of parakeet endemic to the islands of New Zealand. The species is found across the main three islands of New Zealand, North Island, South Island and Stewart Island/Rakiura, as well as on the subantarctic Auckland Islands...
  
  - Near threatened
• Yellow-eyed Penguin (Hoiho)
  Yellow-eyed Penguin
  The Yellow-eyed Penguin or Hoiho is a penguin native to New Zealand. Previously thought closely related to the Little Penguin , molecular research has shown it more closely related to penguins of the genus Eudyptes...
  
  - Endangered
• Yellowhead (Mohoua)
  Yellowhead (bird)
  The Yellowhead or Mohua is a small insectivorous, passerine bird endemic to the South Island of New Zealand...
  
  - Endangered

The following seabird species are endemic as breeders:

• Black Petrel
• Buller's Albatross
  Buller's Albatross
  Buller's Albatross or Buller's Mollymawk, Thalassarche bulleri, is a small mollymawk in the albatross family. It breeds on islands around New Zealand, and feeds in the seas off Australia and the South Pacific.-Taxonomy:...
  
  
• Buller's Shearwater
  Buller's Shearwater
  Buller's Shearwater is a Pacific species of seabird in the family Procellariidae; it is also known as the Grey-backed Shearwater or New Zealand Shearwater...
  
  
• Chatham Petrel
  Chatham Petrel
  The Chatham Petrel or Ranguru is a medium-sized, grey, white and black gadfly petrel. It is endemic to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand, and until recently was restricted to the 218 ha Rangatira or South-East Island....
  
  
• Cook's Petrel
  Cook's Petrel
  Cook's Petrel , one of the smallest petrels, is a species of seabird and a member of the gadfly petrels. The bird is 25-30 cm in size, with a 65-66 cm wingspan...
  
  
• Erect-crested Penguin
  Erect-crested Penguin
  The Erect-crested Penguin is a penguin from New Zealand. It breeds on the Bounty and Antipodes Islands.This is a small-to-medium-sized, yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin, at and weighing . As in all penguin species, the male is slightly larger than the female and the birds weigh the most...
  
  
• Fiordland Crested Penguin
• Fluttering Shearwater
  Fluttering Shearwater
  The Fluttering Shearwater is a species of seabird in the Procellariidae family.It is found in New Zealand and Solomon Islands.Its natural habitats are open seas and rocky shores.-References:...
  
  
• Hutton's Shearwater
  Hutton's Shearwater
  The Hutton's Shearwater is a species of seabird in the family Procellariidae. Its common and specific name commemorates F. W. Hutton, a former curator of the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch....
  
  
• Magenta Petrel
  Magenta Petrel
  The Magenta Petrel or Chatham Island Taiko is a small seabird in the gadfly petrel genus, Pterodroma....
  
  
• Mottled Petrel
  Mottled Petrel
  The Mottled Petrel is a species of seabird and a member of the gadfly petrels. The bird is 33-35 cm in size, with a 74-82 cm wingspan....
  
  
• Pycroft's Petrel
  Pycroft's Petrel
  The Pycroft's Petrel is a species of seabird in the Procellariidae family.It is found in Japan, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, the United States, United States Minor Outlying Islands, and Wallis and Futuna Islands....
  
  
• Snares Crested Penguin
• Southern Royal Albatross
  Southern Royal Albatross
  The Southern Royal Albatross, Diomedea epomophora, is a large seabird from the albatross family. At an average wingspan of around , it is the second largest albatross, behind the Wandering Albatross.-Taxonomy:...
  
  
• Westland Petrel
  Westland Petrel
  The Westland Petrel is a rare seabird that nests in New Zealand's forests. It is one of the largest petrels that nest in burrows, and is threatened by species introduced to New Zealand....
  
  
• White-necked Petrel
  White-necked Petrel
  The White-necked Petrel , also known as the White-naped Petrel, is a species of seabird in the Procellariidae family. During non-breeding season it occurs throughout a large part of the Pacific, but it is only known to breed on Macauley Island in New Zealand's Kermadec Islands and the Australian...
  
  
• Yellow-eyed Penguin
  Yellow-eyed Penguin
  The Yellow-eyed Penguin or Hoiho is a penguin native to New Zealand. Previously thought closely related to the Little Penguin , molecular research has shown it more closely related to penguins of the genus Eudyptes...