Australasian
Crested Grebe
(Puteketeke) Podiceps cristatus australis
Sub-Alpine lakes and some lowland lakes. They are completely
aquatic and when diving for fish can stay underwater for
up to 50 seconds. Rare. 58cm.
New
Zealand Scaup
(Papango)
Aythya novaeseelandiae
Usually inhabiting clear water lakes and lagoons, it is NZ's
only true diving duck remaining underwater for over 20 seconds
while hunting small fish. Also eats insects and invertebrates.
40 cm.
Pied StiltHaematopus unicolor Grows to 48 cm.
Pukeko
(Swamp Hen)
Porphyrio porphyrio melanotis
Can be seen in Swamps, lake edges and paddocks with clumps
of rushes. Main food is
vegetable matter with shoots being held in one foot parrot
fashion. Sometimes eats invertebrates and robs eggs from nests.
51cm.
Little Shag Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Sometimes seen on sheltered coasts and on inland lakes. Black
shags or cormorants swallow live fish or eels head first.
Uncommon in South Island. 61 cm
Black-backed
Gull
Larus dominicanusdominicanus
Coastal and inland areas
Up to 60 cm
Banded
Dotterel (Tuturiwhatu)
Charadrius bicinctus bicinctus
Found on beaches and river mouths, feeding on insects and
small crustaceans. Rapid darting movement. Nest is a hollow
in sand. Some migrate to Australia in autumn with others moving
to coastal estuaries. 18cm
