As you might know, New Zealand‘s national symbol is an endangered flightless bird with an enormous beak.
Our native birds are pretty unique – in fact, a lot of them are unable to carry out the very action that defines most birds.
Without natural predators to fly away from, functional wings became optional rather than a requirement for many of them.
The Kiwi
New Zealanders have been called Kiwis since the Aussies gave us the nickname in WWI (the fruit is ‘kiwifruit, never just ‘kiwi’ FYI) and the kiwi appears on our dollar coin.
Our namesake is the only bird to have nostrils at the end of its long beak, which they use to sniff out food. There are five recognised types of kiwi – brown, great spotted, little spotted, rowi and tokoeka – and they can live for between 25 and 50 years. They are nocturnal, so bear that in mind if you’re hoping to spot a kiwi while you’re here.
Oddly enough, kiwi lay the largest egg in relation to their body size of any species of bird in the world, averaging 15 per cent of a female’s body weight.
The Kea
The kea is the world’s only alpine parrot and one of the smartest birds of all (it’s also the name of the New Zealand expat network).
Playful and inquisitive, they have been known to take off with the belongings of unsuspecting tourists!
People commonly encounter wild kea loitering like aimless youth in the South Island, where they’ll investigate everything from backpacks to cars and anything else that takes their fancy. Cheeky.
The Kakapo
What makes the kakapo so unique? For starters, it’s the world’s only flightless parrot, and the heaviest parrot – they’re able to store lots of body fat and males can weigh more than 2 kg. Large, nocturnal, and herbivorous, it’s not closely related to other parrots at all.
It may not be able to fly but it’s good at climbing trees and can walk several kilometres in one night. With moss-green feathers, the kakapo relies on camouflage as its best form of defence. When it feel threatened, it freezes up. Kakapo also practice a strange system of courtship known as ‘lekking’, where males get together and put on competing displays for the females. (There’s an entire io9 post devoted to this, dubbing it the ‘worst reproductive strategy in the animal kingdom’.)
The Takahe
The takahe is the ultimate survivor. It has endured threats from hunters, habitat loss and predators. It was thought to be extinct at one point but made headlines in 1948 when it was rediscovered in remote Fiordland. Conservation efforts mean takahe can now be found on several island sanctuaries.
Sedentary and flightless, the takahe does have wings, but only uses them to show aggression or courtship. Its brightly coloured plumage is its crowning glory, ranging from indigo to peacock blue and turquoise to olive green, paired with a solid red beak and red legs.
The Tui
You’ll probably hear this bird’s singing before you actually see it. They have two voiceboxes, allowing them to vocalise beautiful melodies as well as the clicks, wheezes, moans and cackles that make up their calls. Plus, they’re known for their ability to imitate human speech, though their variety of sounds far outstrips the range of the human register.
You’ll know a tui from its famous white tuft, the ‘parson’s collar’, at its throat. At first glance the bird will appear otherwise entirely black, but closer inspection will reveal a metallic sheen to its coat of feathers.
Featured image by Virginia McMillan
