Animals At the Otorohanga Kiwi House

Common name:

Brown Kiwi

Latin name:
Apteryx australis mantelli

Maori name:
Kiwi

Sound:

Description:
Females are larger than males with birds weighing between 1.5–3 kgs. The average size is around 50 cm. Plumage is rather harsh to the touch. Colouration can vary from grey/brown to almost black/brown or reddish brown. Displays of white plumage are not uncommon in some local populations.

Habitat/Distribution:
Found in forested areas of the North Island, Little Barrier Island, Kapiti Island and recently reintroduced into several forests south of Palmerston North.

Principal threats:

• Habitat loss

• Introduced predators

• New avian diseases and parasites.

Conservation status:
In serious decline

Fact sheet:
Click to download Brown Kiwi fact sheet

Common name:

Great Spotted Kiwi

Latin name:
Apteryx haasti

Maori name:
Roa

Sound:

Description:
A large grey kiwi distinguished from the Little Spotted Kiwi by the chestnut tinge on the upper back and mottled bands of brown/black plumage. Iris black, bill ivory white – pinkish, feet grey-brown.

Habitat/Distribution:
Found only in the north western part of the South Island, as far south as Brunner and the Paparoa Ranges of the West Coast and east to Arthurs Pass.

Principal threats:

• Habitat loss

• Introduced predators

• New avian diseases and parasites.

Conservation status:
In gradual decline

Fact sheet:
Click to download Great Spotted Brown Kiwi fact sheet

Common name:

Blue Duck

Latin name:
Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos

Maori name:
Whio

Sound:

Description:
A large duck about 53 cm in size. Dove grey colouring with a bluish sheen, heavily spotted red/brown on the breast, pinkish/white bill with a black tip, dark brown feet. Female has reduced red/brown spotting on the breast and spots are completely absent in juveniles.

Habitat/Distribution:
Whio are river dwelling and sometimes referred to as a torrent duck. They frequent the headwater catchments of rivers in both the North and South Islands.

Principal threats:

• Habitat loss

• Disturbance including white water recreational activities

• Hunting dogs and shooting

• Predation of nests

• Introduced trout.

Conservation status:
DoC Status: Nationally endangered
IUCN Status: Vulnerable

Fact sheet:
Click to download Blue Duck fact sheet

Common name:

NZ Falcon (Karearea)

Latin name:
Falco novaeseelandiae

Maori name:
Karearea

Sound:

Description:
An endemic species, the males are around 43 cm weighing 300 grams, females 47 cm and weighing some 500 grams. The colouring is generally black above, buff barred and streaked below. Thighs and under tail-coverts are a rufous brown with darker streaks. Legs, feet and cere are yellow, claws black.

Habitat/Distribution:
Widespread in the high country of the South Island and lower North Island.

Principal threats:

• Introduced mammalian predators

• Habitat loss and shooting

• Chemical sprays used in agriculture.

Conservation status:
Endemic, endangered

Fact sheet:
Click to download NZ Falcon fact sheet

Common name:

Kea

Latin name:
Nestor notabilis

Maori name:
Kea

Sound:

Description:
The sexes are similar, although the male is larger with a more outward curving upper mandible. The overall colour is an olive green with scarlet under wing coverts. The iris is dark brown, the mandible and legs dark brown to black. Size 46 cm. Juveniles crown immediately after fledging. The nape is olive/yellow, the cere and mandible bright orange-yellow. Legs are light grey.

Habitat/Distribution:
Kea inhabit the South Island high country and alps.

Principal threats:

• Degradation of habitat by fire

• Over-grazing by domestic stock and browsing by feral animals

• Predation at nests by introduced mammals such as stoats

• Illegal shooting and poisoning

• Illegal capture and trading in Kea.

Conservation status:
Category B threatened species

Fact sheet:
Click to download Kea fact sheet

Common name:

Tui

Latin name:
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

Maori name:
Tui

Sound:

Description:
The sexes are alike with the female slightly smaller. Tui appear black at a distance, but are mainly iridescent green with dark bluish/purple reflections. Around 30 cm in size. The back and side of the neck are ornamented with white-shafted filamentous feathers, which curl forwards on the side of neck. Tui have a white, double, throat tuft of curled feathers. The iris is dark brown, the bill and legs black.

Habitat/Distribution:
Widespread in forests, open country and urban areas throughout New Zealand.

Principal threats:

Conservation status:
Common

Fact sheet:
Click to download Tui fact sheet

Common name:

Red-Crowned Kakariki

Latin name:
Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae

Maori name:
Kakariki – green parakeet

Sound:

Description:
A small parakeet with a band of red across the forehead from the mandible to the top of the crown and just behind the eye; violet blue on the inner primary feathers. The iris is red, the mandible pale blue/grey with a black tip. The legs and feet are greyish brown.

Habitat/Distribution:
Once widely distributed throughout both islands, but now scarce on the two main islands. Inhabits forests, scrubland and open areas.

Principal threats:

• Loss of habitat and introduced predators

• Avian diseases from introduced parrots.

Conservation status:
Threatened (regionally)

Fact sheet:
Click to download Red-Crowned Kakariki fact sheet

Common name:

Grey Teal

Latin name:
Anas gibberifrons gracilis

Maori name:
Tete

Description:
New Zealand's smallest flying duck, overall grey with the head and back of the neck a dark brown. Throat, chin and side of head are almost white. Back and flank feathers are dark brown with pale edges. The speculum is green with a narrow white band. The mandible is blue/grey, the feet black and iris a bright red.

Habitat/Distribution:
Tete prefer shallow freshwater lakes, lagoons and swamps with extensive marginal cover. They are found throughout South Auckland, Waikato, Hawkes Bay and Otago. The species is also found throughout Australia, New Guinea and New Caledonia. The New Zealand population is subject to periodic influxes from Australia, as birds are driven out by drought.

Principal threats:

• Introduced predators

• Illegal hunting

• Loss of habitat.

Conservation status:
Uncommon, but the range is increasing

Fact sheet:
Click to download Grey Teal fact sheet

Common name:

Variable Oystercatcher

Latin name:
Haematopus unicolor

Maori name:
Torea-pango

Description:
Variable colouration; unicolor individuals are entirely black with a red mandible and scarlet iris, legs a coral pink. Pied individuals are black with white belly, flanks, rump and tail coverts. Intermediate individuals have variable amounts of white on wing bars, rump and belly. All birds have an orange eye-ring, bright orange mandible (often with a yellow tip) and coral pink legs.

Habitat/Distribution:
Scattered right around the New Zealand coastline

Principal threats:

• Loss of habitat through waterfront development

• Introduced predators preying on eggs & young birds

• Human disturbance

Conservation status:
Rare

Fact sheet:
Click to download Variable Oystercatcher fact sheet

Common name:

Green tree gecko

Latin name:
Naultinus elegans

Maori name:
Moko kakariki

Description:
The inside of its mouth and tongue are a deep shade of mauve. Occasionally the green is replaced by a yellow colour type colour phase, but the lizard may still be mottled with a lighter colour. This colour variant does appear in some of the other species of green geckos. Normally the young are produced in August. Grows to approximately 95mm

Habitat/Distribution:
From upper half of the North Island.

Principal threats:
There are two main threats to geckos: predation and habitat destruction. All New Zealand geckos are vulnerable to mammalian predation. Predators include mice, rats, hedgehogs, weasels, stoats, ferrets, cats, possums and pigs.

Conservation status:
Common