Kea showing wing colours.. Bernard Spragg photography
Above the forest line in the Southern Alps in the South Island of New Zealand are extensive areas partly covered in scrub and tussock, partly bare rocks and shingle, and mostly precipitous and difficult to trav... More
Red Billed Gull And Chick. From a hide.
Public domain free photos Public domain scan of print / book page depicting birds, ornithology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
White heron,(Egretta alba modesta)
A large white heron with a long yellow bill, long dark legs and a very long neck. When breeding, the bill becomes grey-black and long filamentous plumes develop, mainly on the back. In flight, the white heron t... More
Pied Stilt.(Himantopus himantopus)
The pied stilt is a dainty wading bird with, as its name suggests, black-and-white coloration and very long legs. It is common at wetlands and coastal areas throughout New Zealand and may be seen feeding alongs... More
Kereru. NZ Wood Pigeon.. Bernard Spragg photography
The kererū is a large bird with irridescent green and bronze feathers on its head and a smart white vest. The noisy beat of its wings is a distinctive sound in our forests...New Zealand status: Endemic.Conserva... More
Spotted shag.NZ (Stictocarbo punctatus)
During breeding the spotted shag looks regal in its patterned cloak of plumage, the muted browns and greys a departure from the stark black and white of many shags. It has a generous double crest, the eye ring ... More
Pukeko. (Porphyrio porphyrio)., Bernard Spragg Photo
What is a Pukeko?..The Pukeko, or New Zealand Swamp Hen is a member of the rail family, and is similar to other species found all over the world. It is one of the few New Zealand native birds to have flourished... More
Red Billed Gull And Chicks. Bernard Spragg photography
Few birds are as well known as the Red-billed Gull, simply called Seagull by most people. Primarily a bird of the coast it may be seen inland in some areas such as at Rotorua, and towns near the coast often hav... More
Red-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae)
genus Cyanoramphus, family Psittacidae.Both birds assist with the feeding of the young.. They feed on leaves, buds, flowers, shoots, seeds, fruit, berries, nuts and other parts of plants.. They also eat i... More
New Zealand Birds, New Zealand / Burton Brothers Studio
Public domain vintage photo from New Zealand archive, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Variable oystercatcher NZ, Bernard Spragg Photo
The variable oystercatcher is a familiar stocky coastal bird with a long, bright orange bill, found around much of New Zealand. They are often seen in pairs probing busily for shellfish along beaches or in estu... More
Silver eye., Bernard Spragg Photo
The silvereye colonised New Zealand from Australia in the 1850s, and is now one of New Zealand’s most abundant and widespread bird species. It is found throughout New Zealand and its offshore and outlying islan... More
Oyster catcher., Bernard Spragg Photo
The variable oystercatcher is a familiar stocky coastal bird with a long, bright orange bill, found around much of New Zealand. They are often seen in pairs probing busily for shellfish along beaches or in estu... More
Kea wing colours., Bernard Spragg Photo
As kea fly overhead, they show flashes of the bright red and orange under their wings. Seen from above, their colours are duller – probably to avoid attracting the attention of birds of prey...The kea’s topside... More
Saddleback.(Philesturnus carunculatus), Bernard Spragg Photo
A native bird of New Zealand..A medium-sized black songbird with a chestnut-coloured saddle across the back, fleshy reddish-orange wattles at the base of the bill, and a pointed black bill. Juveniles have choco... More
White heron,(Egretta alba modesta)
The white heron or kotuku is well-loved by the New Zealand people, but it is rarely seen except by those who specifically seek it out. Its sole New Zealand breeding site near Okarito Lagoon in Westland is well-... More
White heron,(Egretta alba modesta)
A rare bird.Rare in New Zealand, with a population of just 100–120 birds, the elegant white heron or kōtuku (Ardea modesta) is nevertheless common in India, Japan, China and Australia, where it is known as the ... More
Shoveler Duck NZ, Bernard Spragg Photo
The Shoveler is characterised by a long, narrow body that floats low in the water. It has a distinctive heavy, blue-black shovel-tipped bill, a low sloping forehead and a golden eye. In breeding plumage, its he... More
Paradise shelduck. (male), Bernard Spragg Photo
The paradise shelduck (Tadorna variegata) is a large goose-like duck endemic to New Zealand. It is a shelduck, a group of large goose-like birds which are part of the bird family Anatidae. The genus name Tadorn... More
Silver eye.(Zosterops lateralis )
Also known as wax-eye or white-eye, Zosterops lateralis belongs to the widespread family Zosteropidae. New Zealand possesses one species which is a relatively recent arrival in this country from Australia. Perm... More
White faced heron.(Ardea novaehollandiae)
The white-faced heron is New Zealand's most common heron, despite being a relatively new arrival to this country. It is a tall, elegant, blue-grey bird that can be seen stalking its prey in almost any aquatic h... More
Kea. NZ, Bernard Spragg Photo. Bernard Spragg photography
Kea are a unique and endangered parrot (psittacine) species endemic to the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Kea are highly adaptive and are considered by scientists to be one of the most intelligent bird species i... More
New Zealand fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)
The New Zealand fantail occurs in two colour morphs: pied and black. The adult pied fantail has a greyish head, prominent white eyebrows, brown back and rump, cinnamon breast and belly, white and black bands ac... More
Pied shag (Phalacrocorax varius)
Almost as large as the black shag. Distinctively coloured, large black and white coloured seabird. Pied shags have a large and distinctive hooked beak. Breeds throughout New Zealand with colonies in macrocarpa ... More
Kea Alpine parrot, Bernard Spragg Photo
The New Zealand kea is an endemic parrot found in the South Island's alpine environments...Kea are a protected species. They are rated as one of the most intelligent birds in the world. ..To survive in the hars... More
Blue Duck (Whio),, Bernard Spragg Photo
Blue-grey with a flecked chestnut breast, the whio blends into its rock and water environment, often hiding in overhanging vegetation on the banks where it roosts and nests...The whio has large, webbed feet to ... More
Silvereyes.NZ, Bernard Spragg Photo
The silvereye or wax-eye (Zosterops lateralis) is a very small omnivorous passerine bird of the south-west pacific. In Australia and New Zealand its common name is sometimes shortened to white-eye, but this nam... More
Fantail NZ, Bernard Spragg Photo
Known for its friendly ‘cheet cheet’ call and energetic flying antics, the aptly named fantail is one of the most common and widely distributed native birds on the New Zealand mainland...It is easily recognized... More
New Zealand Birds - Muir & Moodie, New Zealand
Picryl description: Public domain photo of vintage New Zealand postcard, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
The Kea doing damage.. Bernard Spragg photography
The kea is an unusual parrot. It is the only truly alpine parrot in the world, and gained early notoriety among settler farmers for attacks on their sheep. Innately curious, kea are attracted to people wherever... More
Kingfisher., Bernard Spragg Photo
Kingfisher (kōtare).Our sacred kingfisher or kōtare is a cousin of the kookaburra in Australia. It’s ancestors flew here from Australia around 10,000 years ago..Don’t be fooled by the kingfisher’s name, because... More
The Kea., Bernard Spragg Photo. Bernard Spragg photography
The habitat of the kea extends from South Island beech forests to alpine meadows and mountain scree slopes. This environment is extensive, extremely harsh and variable and the kea has evolved to cope with the a... More
Red Billed Gull And Chick. Bernard Spragg photography
The red-billed gull is the commonest gull on the New Zealand coast. Except for a colony at Lake Rotorua, it rarely is found inland. It is commonly seen in coastal towns, garbage dumps and at fish processing fac... More
The fantail. (Rhipidura fuliginosa)
The fantail or pīwakawaka (Rhipidura fuliginosa) is 16 centimetres long, including its 8-centimetre tail. It weighs 8 grams. Most fantails are brown above and pale underneath. Their fan-like tail, usually held ... More
White-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
White-faced herons occur throughout Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand. They are a relatively new species in New Zealand, having self-introduced in the 1940s. From the 1950s onwards numbers have grown rapidl... More
Wax or silvereye. (Zosterops lateralis)
The silvereye – also known as the wax-eye, or sometimes white eye – is a small and friendly olive green forest bird with white rings around its eyes..Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) were self introduced in the ... More
Pukeko NZ, Bernard Spragg Photo
Pūkeko is the New Zealand name for the purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio). There are many subspecies of purple swamphen...The subspecies found in New Zealand (Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus) is thought to hav... More
Australasian crested grebe., Bernard Spragg Photo
The Australasian crested grebe is majestic and distinctive diving bird that is usually seen on the southern lakes of New Zealand where it breeds. It has a slender neck, sharp black bill and head with a distinct... More
New Zealand Birds - Muir & Moodie, New Zealand
Picryl description: Public domain historical photo of the address side of postcard, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.
The Tui. (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)
The tui (Māori: tūī; Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) is an endemic passerine bird of New Zealand, and the only species in the genus Prosthemadera. It is one of the largest species in the diverse Australasian hon... More
Blue duck/whio. (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos)
The blue duck/whio is only found in New Zealand. It is a nationally vulnerable species and faces a risk of becoming extinct...The blue duck is one of a handful of torrent duck species worldwide. It is a river s... More
Blue duck/whio. NZ. Bernard Spragg photography
The blue duck/whio is only found in New Zealand. It is a nationally vulnerable species and faces a risk of becoming extinct..The blue duck is one of a handful of torrent duck species worldwide. It is a river sp... More
Northern royal albatross,( Diomedea sanfordi,)
The northern royal albatross is a huge white albatross with black upperwings. It usually mates for life and breeds only in New Zealand. Biennial breeding takes place primarily on The Sisters and The Forty-Fours... More
Kea and and the bike seat.. Bernard Spragg photography
Kea are large parrots that live in the South Island high country, sometimes venturing down to valley floors. Their call is a ringing ‘keee-aa’. Playful and inquisitive, they can be destructive around ski fields... More
Saddle Back NZ, Bernard Spragg Photo
Public domain free photos Public domain scan of print / book page depicting birds, ornithology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Black backed gull., Bernard Spragg Photo
The southern black-backed gull (or ‘black-back’) is one of the most abundant and familiar large birds in New Zealand, although many people do not realise that the mottled brown juveniles (mistakenly called “mol... More
The Tui.NZ, Bernard Spragg Photo
Tūī are unique (endemic) to New Zealand and belong to the honeyeater family, which means they feed mainly on nectar from flowers of native plants such as kōwhai, puriri, rewarewa, kahikatea, pohutukawa, rātā an... More
Australasian Crested Grebe, Bernard Spragg Photo
The Australasian crested grebe is majestic and distinctive diving bird that is usually seen on the southern lakes of New Zealand where it breeds. It has a slender neck, sharp black bill and head with a distinct... More
Pukeko (3), Bernard Spragg Photo
What is a Pukeko? ..The Pukeko, or New Zealand Swamp Hen is a member of the rail family, and is similar to other species found all over the world. It is one of the few New Zealand native birds to have flourishe... More
Red-crowned parakeet.(Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae)
The red-crowned parakeet or red-fronted parakeet, also widely known by its Māori name of kākāriki, is a small parrot from New Zealand. It is characterised by its bright green plumage and the red pattern on its head.
White heron, (Egretta alba modesta)
A rare bird.Rare in New Zealand, with a population of just 100–120 birds, the elegant white heron or kōtuku (Ardea modesta) is nevertheless common in India, Japan, China and Australia, where it is known as the ... More
Northern NZ dotterel., Bernard Spragg Photo
Dotterels are plump little birds that dart around on beaches and mudflats with a comical stop-start action. Internationally, the term plover is used interchangeably with dotterel. The Māori name tuturiwhatu inc... More
The southern black-backed gull. NZ
The southern black-backed gull (or ‘black-back’) is one of the most abundant and familiar large birds in New Zealand, although many people do not realise that the mottled brown juveniles (mistakenly called “mol... More
Shoveler Duck NZ, Bernard Spragg Photo
The male shoveler is New Zealand's most handsome duck, with variegated plumage, blue-grey head with a white vertical stripe between the eye and bill, a striking reddish-brown breast, and blue wings. Nature has... More
Scaup NZ (Daffy Duck). Bernard Spragg photography
The New Zealand scaup or pāpango is a short, round diving duck. The male is glossy dark brown and black with yellow eyes. The female is dark brown and often has a vertical white band at the base of the bill. Th... More
Paradise Duck with young.. Bernard Spragg photography
The paradise shelduck is a freshwater and a coastal duck. All ducklings readily take to water, but young paradise shelduck are not afraid to venture out into small surf. They have been seen surfing in on tiny... More
Pied stilt. (himantopus.), Bernard Spragg Photo
The pied stilt is a dainty wading bird with, as its name suggests, black-and-white coloration and very long legs. It is common at wetlands and coastal areas throughout New Zealand and may be seen feeding alongs... More
New Zealand Dotterel., Bernard Spragg Photo
The New Zealand dotterel is a familiar bird of sandy east coast beaches in the northern North Island, but is sparsely distributed around much of the rest of the country. There are two widely separated subspecie... More
White Faced Heron., Bernard Spragg Photo
The white-faced heron is New Zealand's most common heron, despite being a relatively new arrival to this country. It is a tall, elegant, blue-grey bird that can be seen stalking its prey in almost any aquatic h... More
Brown Teal duck. New Zealand. Bernard Spragg photography
The BrownTeal (Anas chlorotis), or pateke, is a small dabbling duck species endemic to New Zealand distributed throughout the lowland freshwater wetlands and, historically, the Chatham Islands. The brown teal’s... More
White heron, (Egretta alba modesta)
The white heron has always been rare in New Zealand and it has gained almost mythical status..It is revered by both Māori and pakeha for its elegant white feathers. This graceful bird has long, slender legs and... More
Pied Shag., Bernard Spragg Photo
The Australian Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocorax varius, also known as the Pied Cormorant or Pied Shag, is a medium-sized member of the cormorant family. It is found around the coasts of Australasia
Australasian Crested Grebe, Bernard Spragg Photo
The Australasian crested grebe is majestic and distinctive diving bird that is usually seen on the southern lakes of New Zealand where it breeds. It has a slender neck, sharp black bill and head with a distinct... More
Pukeko. NZ Bird., Bernard Spragg Photo
The Pukeko, or New Zealand Swamp Hen is a member of the rail family, and is similar to other species found all over the world. It is one of the few New Zealand native birds to have flourished since the arrival ... More
White-fronted tern (Sterna striata)
The white-fronted tern (Sterna striata) is the most common tern of New Zealand. It rarely swims, apart from bathing, despite having webbed feet. The species is protected...White-fronted terns feed in large floc... More
Worlds only Alpine Parrot. Kea NZ.
The kea is an unusual parrot. It is the only truly alpine parrot in the world, and gained early notoriety among settler farmers for attacks on their sheep. Innately curious, kea are attracted to people wherever... More
Pied Shag. (Phalacrocorax varius)
This large black-and-white shag is often seen individually or in small groups roosting on rocky headlands, trees or artificial structures. In regions where it occurs it can usually be readily seen about harbour... More
Bush Robin. (Petroica australis)
New Zealand robins and tomtits resemble British robins, but the two groups are not closely related. The New Zealand species belong to the Australian–New Guinean family Petroicidae...Robins and tomtits have larg... More
Catalogue of Mr Bullers' Collection of New Zealand Birds
Public domain photograph of painting in New Zealand museums, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
New Zealand fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)
Fantails are small insectivorous birds of Australasia, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent belonging to the genus Rhipidura in the family Rhipiduridae.
The kea (Nestor notabilis) NZ. Bernard Spragg photography
The kea is an unusual parrot. It is the only truly alpine parrot in the world, and gained early notoriety among settler farmers for attacks on their sheep. Innately curious, kea are attracted to people wherever... More
The pied shag,(Phalacrocorax varius,)
Pied shags mainly inhabit coastal habitats about much of New Zealand. Adults have the crown, back of the neck, mantle, rump, wings, thighs and tail black, although on close inspection the upper wing coverts are... More
Parekareka, the spotted shag. NZ
Compared with typical cormorants, the spotted shag is a light-coloured bird. Its back is brown. Its belly is pale blue-grey (often appearing white), and the white continues up the sides of the neck and face, bu... More
Shoveler duck.(Anas rhynchotis variegata,)
Shovelers swim with their bill submerged, sieving food from the water surface, and even through mud. The peculiar broad bill is predominant as soon as the chick is hatched...The shoveler's sifting apparatus is... More
Shoveler Duck.FZ200, Bernard Spragg Photo
The male shoveler is New Zealand's most handsome duck, with variegated plumage, blue-grey head with a white vertical stripe between the eye and bill, a striking reddish-brown breast, and blue wings. Nature has... More
The Australasian swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus)
The pūkeko is probably one of the most recognised native birds in New Zealand with its distinctive colourings and habit of feeding on the ground.Pūkeko is the New Zealand name for the purple swamphen (Porphyrio... More
Red Billed Gull Chicks.. Bernard Spragg photography
A white gull with grey wings, the beaks, feet, and eyelids are bright red-orange in mature adults. The main flight feathers are black with white tips. Juveniles have brown patches on their wings and back, and d... More
Yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes)
It is found only in New Zealand. They are found mostly on the southeast coast of the South Island, Stewart Island and on the subantarctic Campbell and Auckland Islands. Their numbers on the mainland have declin... More
Variable oystercatcher. (Haematopus unicolor)
The variable oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor, torea or toreapango) is found on rocky and sandy beaches. It is rare – there were around 3,500 birds in 1994, and they are found only in New Zealand...Also known... More
Yellow-eyed penguin., Bernard Spragg Photo
Unique to New Zealand, the hoiho, or yellow-eyed penguin, is thought to be one of the world's rarest penguin species...Yellow-eyed penguins/hoiho are found along the south-east South Island and on Banks Peninsu... More
NZ Black Shag., Bernard Spragg Photo
A large black shag with black-brown wings and tail, and white-cream feathering over cheeks and throat. The skin about the eyes and base of bill is yellow, feet and legs black, bill grey, and eyes green. Adults ... More
White heron. (Egretta alba modesta)
A rare bird..Rare in New Zealand, with a population of just 100–120 birds, the elegant white heron or kōtuku (Egretta alba modesta) is nevertheless common in India, Japan, China and Australia. With a long, slen... More
Variable Oystercatcher with chick.
Endemic to New Zealand, the Variable Oystercatcher, Haematopus unicolor, is a bird that many people will happily stop and watch as it goes about hunting for food...The Variable Oystercatcher is to be found on b... More
Pied Shag. (Phalacrocorax varius)
Phalacrocoracidae is a family of some 40 species of aquatic birds commonly known as cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed.
Pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus), Bernard Spragg Photo
The Australasian swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) is a species of swamphen occurring in eastern Indonesia, the Moluccas, Aru and Kai Islands, as well as in Papua New Guinea and Australia. It is also found in New ... More
Keas., Bernard Spragg Photo. Bernard Spragg photography
The kea Nestor notabilis) is a large species of parrot of the superfamily Strigopoidea found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand. About 48 cm (19 in) long, it is mostly olive-gree... More
Destructive Kea NZ. (Nestor notabilis)
Meet the parrot that’s as smart as a monkey: New Zealand’s own kea. Dubbed the Clown of the Alps, this bird is heralded as the world’s most intelligent bird. It’s also heralded as the cheekiest. A permanent res... More
New Zealand Scaup, Bernard Spragg Photo
The New Zealand Scaup (Aythya novaeseelandiae) commonly known as a Black teal, is a diving duck species of the genus Aythya. It is endemic to New Zealand..They are a diving duck and may stay down for twenty to ... More
Australasian Crested Grebe., Bernard Spragg Photo
The handsome Australasian crested grebe belongs to an ancient order of diving water birds found on every.continent in the world. It is renowned for its mating displays and the way young grebes ride among plumag... More
Pukeko. (Porphyrio porphyrio)., Bernard Spragg Photo
The Pukeko, or New Zealand Swamp Hen is a member of the rail family, and is similar to other species found all over the world. It is one of the few New Zealand native birds to have flourished since the arrival ... More
Pied shag ( Phalacrocorax varius,)
Of the world's 36 species of shag 12 are found in New Zealand and 8 of these are endemic. Members of the shag family belong to three groups based on the colour of their feet: black, yellow or pink. The Pied sha... More
Catalogue of Mr Bullers' Collection of New Zealand Birds
Public domain photograph of painting in New Zealand museums, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Variable oystercatcher. (Haematopus unicolor)
The variable oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor, torea or toreapango) is found on rocky and sandy beaches. It is rare – there were around 3,500 birds in 1994, and they are found only in New Zealand..Also known ... More
South Island robin (Petroica australis australis)
The New Zealand robin/toutouwai is a sparrow-sized bird found only in New Zealand...They are friendly and trusting, often coming to within a couple of metres of people. The people themselves are not always the ... More
The White Heron (Kotuku) NZ. Bernard Spragg photography
A rare bird..Rare in New Zealand, with a population of just 100–120 birds, the elegant white heron or kōtuku (Ardea modesta) is nevertheless common in India, Japan, China and Australia, where it is known as the... More
White faced heron., Bernard Spragg Photo
The white-faced heron is New Zealand's most common heron, despite being a relatively new arrival to this country. It is a tall, elegant, blue-grey bird that can be seen stalking its prey in almost any aquatic h... More
Kea wing.New Zealand., Bernard Spragg Photo
The kea is an unusual parrot. It is the only truly alpine parrot in the world, and gained early notoriety among settler farmers for attacks on their sheep. Innately curious, kea are attracted to people wherever... More
Black back gulls.NZ, Bernard Spragg Photo
Black-backed gulls..Black-backed gulls or karoro (Larus dominicanus) can be found in the southern hemisphere from Antarctica to the subtropics. Elsewhere they are known as Dominican or kelp gulls. The subspecie... More
Pukeko (13), Bernard Spragg Photo
Public domain free photos Public domain scan of print / book page depicting birds, ornithology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description