#zelandia

[proton-wobbler]

Great Backyard Bird Off - New Zealand - Finale!

choose your favorite bird!

Kākā

Kererū

Voting ended onJan 12

Bird Support (under the Read More)

Kākā (Nestor meridionalis)

A large, olive-brown parrot endemic to New Zealand. Adults have a deep crimson belly and undertail with a red-orange underwing. South Island birds are brighter with a white crown. Juveniles have a yellow base to their lower bill. A forest-dwelling parrot that is more common on offshore islands, but flourishes in areas where mammalian predators are controlled; some visit city and rural gardens. Harsh, grating “kra-aa” call is often heard before the bird is seen. The species also whistles a series of tuneful notes while perched. Distinguishable from Kea by smaller size, olive-brown as opposed to olive-green plumage, and range. (eBird)

i love that thing, screams like a fucking dinosaur as it flies overhead. they werent common until like 5 yrs ago because of increased conservation efforts in my city. they are loud and beautiful and a great symbol of local efforts to restore native wildlife populations

Local bird, a rare sight

[New Zealand Kaka] because they're in my backyard sometimes

Kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae)

Large pigeon endemic to New Zealand with distinctive blue-green iridescent plumage, white belly, and red eye. Makes conspicuous display flights in breeding season; often seen feeding on heavily fruiting trees or fresh leaves and flower buds in spring. Widespread where food is available. Only emits soft “oo” calls, but note distinctive wingbeat sound, especially when alighting or taking off. (eBird)

They’re so joyous and whimsical and they get drunk off of berries fermenting in their stomach and fall out of the tree. Ideal creature

They are super cute and also keep trying to stand on branches that are too small for them and then fall off or hang upsidedown

My favourite of all the places I’ve lived had a tree right outside my second floor window and the time at which I got home every day was the time at which a kereru best liked hanging out in that tree. I was so happy to see it =)

Massive. Colourful. Pigeon. That eats huge berries whole.

image sources: kaka (Eric VanderWerf), kereru (Marcin Dyduch)

[proton-wobbler]

Great Backyard Bird Off - Round 3 - New Zealand (poll 2)

Choose your favorite

Kereru

Tomtit

Voting ended onDec 7, 2025

Bird Support

Kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae)

They’re so joyous and whimsical and they get drunk off of berries fermenting in their stomach and fall out of the tree. Ideal creature

They are super cute and also keep trying to stand on branches that are too small for them and then fall off or hang upside-down

My favourite of all the places I’ve lived had a tree right outside my second floor window and the time at which I got home every day was the time at which a kereru best liked hanging out in that tree. I was so happy to see it =)

Massive. Colourful. Pigeon. That eats huge berries whole.

Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala)

Has two subspecies with Māori names for both, south island (ngirungiru) & north island (miromiro)

Image sources: kereru (Marcin Dyduch), tomtit (Peter Taylor)

[proton-wobbler]

Great Backyard Bird Off - New Zealand (poll 3)

choose your bird

Titipounamu

Tui

Tomtit

Voting ended onSep 12, 2025

Support

Tītipounamu (Acanthisitta chloris)

also known as Rifleman

"Found all over New Zealand"

"one of the last songbirds of a very ancient lineage which sits outside of the two main songbird families."

Tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)

"i love tūī! i see them a lot when my tree is fruiting, and i like their colours and how they sound"

"Pretty common where I live (I see them basically every day). Their calls are very diverse (they can even mimic human speech). Also they have very pretty plumage. Not the politest of birds but I still love them."

"aoteroa (new zealand) bird I see all the time"

"They have a very nice song and are native to Aotearoa"

Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala)

"Has two subspecies with Māori names for both, south island (ngirungiru) & north island (miromiro)"

image sources: rifleman (Bruce Wedderburn), tui (Max Chalfin-Jacobs), tomtit (Peter Taylor)

[proton-wobbler]

Great Backyard Bird Off - New Zealand (poll 2)

choose your bird

Kakaruwai

Kereru

Voting ended onSep 12, 2025

Support

Kakaruwai (Petroica australis)

also known as South Island Robin

"my son"

A small charcoal-colored songbird endemic to New Zealand. Confined to the South and Stewart Islands. Favors native and exotic forest stands. Males have a more distinct separation between dark gray and cream on their chest than females. Juveniles mirror the look of a female but with less to no cream underneath. Can be incredibly confiding and curious about humans. It is possible to bring individuals out into the open by disturbing leaf litter and then sitting quietly. Actively flushes out prey with foot trembling and by flicking its wings and tail. Male song is a loud and simple phrase of notes including “pwee-pwee-pwee.” (eBird)

Kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae)

also known as New Zealand Pigeon

"They’re so joyous and whimsical and they get drunk off of berries fermenting in their stomach and fall out of the tree. Ideal creature"

"They are super cute and also keep trying to stand on branches that are too small for them and then fall off or hang upsidedown"

"My favourite of all the places I’ve lived had a tree right outside my second floor window and the time at which I got home every day was the time at which a kereru best liked hanging out in that tree. I was so happy to see it =)"

"Massive. Colourful. Pigeon. That eats huge berries whole."

Image sources: robin (Luke Seitz), pigeon (Marcin Dyduch)

[proton-wobbler]

Great Backyard Bird Off - New Zealand (poll 1)

choose your bird

Kaka

Pukeko

Voting ended onSep 12, 2025

Support

Kākā (Nestor meridionalis)

"i love that thing, screams like a fucking dinosaur as it flies overhead. they werent common until like 5 yrs ago because of increased conservation efforts in my city. they are loud and beautiful and a great symbol of local efforts to restore native wildlife populations"

"Local bird, a rare sight"

"because they're in my backyard sometimes"

Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus)

"It’s colourful, and looks kind of like a mini-cassowary. Tragically actual cassowaries are significantly less common. (Tbf they’re also significantly deadlier) Anyway, it has cool colours"

"They are NZ native birds, mostly hanging around wetlands & swampy patches, lending them the nickname 'swamp turkey'. They've adapted to a built environment and can often be found along streams in residential areas & parks, and even along roadside ditches. Plus, look at them! Gorgeous blue & black plumage and outsize red feet!"

"Big leggy bird. Has been known to steal spoons. Eyeing your food when you camp. Funky tights. A fantastic water bird."

image sources: kaka (Eric VanderWerf), swamphen (Zebedee Muller)

[proton-wobbler]

Great Backyard Bird Off - Round 3 - New Zealand (poll 1)

Choose your favorite

Kaka

Tui

Voting ended onDec 7, 2025

Bird Support

Kākā (Nestor meridionalis)

i love that thing, screams like a fucking dinosaur as it flies overhead. they werent common until like 5 yrs ago because of increased conservation efforts in my city. they are loud and beautiful and a great symbol of local efforts to restore native wildlife populations

Local bird, a rare sight

because they're in my backyard sometimes

Tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)

i love tūī! i see them a lot when my tree is fruiting, and i like their colours and how they sound

Pretty common where I live (I see them basically every day). Their calls are very diverse (they can even mimic human speech). Also they have very pretty plumage. Not the politest of birds but I still love them.

aoteroa (new zealand) bird I see all the time

They have a very nice song and are native to Aotearoa

Image sources: kaka (Eric VanderWerf), tui (Max Chalfin-Jacobs)

[proton-wobbler]

Great Backyard Bird Off - New Zealand (poll 6)

Choose your favorite

Kārearea

Pukeko

Voting ended onMar 18, 2025

Bird Info & Submission Reasons

Kārearea / New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae)

"local bird"

A compact raptor endemic to New Zealand, with streaky cream-and-brown breast and reddish-brown undertail. In flight, note rapid beating of long pointed wings, and long rounded tail shape while gliding. Females are much larger than males. Widely distributed throughout New Zealand in native and exotic forest, as well as in tussock grassland and farmland. Will aggressively dive-bomb intruders close to nesting sites. Distinctive “kek-kek-kek” call given during attacks. (eBird)

Pukeko / Australasian swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus)

[submitted as Purple Swamphen] "It’s colourful, and looks kind of like a mini-cassowary. Tragically actual cassowaries are significantly less common. (Tbf they’re also significantly deadlier) Anyway, it has cool colours"

"They are NZ native birds, mostly hanging around wetlands & swampy patches, lending them the nickname 'swamp turkey'. They've adapted to a built environment and can often be found along streams in residential areas & parks, and even along roadside ditches. Plus, look at them! Gorgeous blue & black plumage and outsize red feet!"

"Big leggy bird. Has been known to steal spoons. Eyeing your food when you camp. Funky tights. A fantastic water bird."

Image Sources: falcon (Glenda Rees), swamphen (Zebedee Muller)

[proton-wobbler]

Great Backyard Bird Off - New Zealand (poll 3)

Choose your favorite

Kererū

Korimako

Voting ended onMar 18, 2025

Bird Info & Submission Reasons

Kererū / New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae)

"They’re so joyous and whimsical and they get drunk off of berries fermenting in their stomach and fall out of the tree. Ideal creature"

"They are super cute and also keep trying to stand on branches that are too small for them and then fall off or hang upside down"

"My favourite of all the places I’ve lived had a tree right outside my second floor window and the time at which I got home every day was the time at which a kereru best liked hanging out in that tree. I was so happy to see it =)"

Korimako (Anthornis melanura)

also known as the New Zealand Bellbird

A medium-sized nectar feeder endemic to New Zealand. Note yellowish-green plumage, blackish wings and tail, and red eyes. Male has purple tints on his head. Female browner, with a bluish gloss on the head. Juveniles show a clear yellowish cheek stripe. Widespread in the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Favors native and exotic forest, scrub, and urban parks and gardens. Listen for its melodious song consisting of a series of tuneful notes. Alarm call is a harsh, rapidly repeated “yeng.” Distinguished from European Greenfinch by lack of a pale, conical bill and larger size. Listen for lack of grunts, wheezes, and clicks to distinguish song from that of Tui. (eBird)

Image Sources: pigeon (Marcin Dyduch), bellbird (Christopher Stephens)