MOHO PERERŪ Rallus philippensis
The moho pereru / banded rail are native to New Zealand and a secretive bird. It is said they are best spotted at dusk and dawn, or during heavy rain.
Moho pereru are aquatic birds and inhabit the wetlands throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand. They are an at risk species and although their numbers are declining they are still common.
The voice is a creaky swit-swit or a high-pitched quee-quee often heard at dusk.
OTHER NAMES
Mioweka, konini, kata tei, buff-banded rail
KERERŪ Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
The kererū is a large bird and the noisy flutter of its wings is a distinctive sound in the forest. They are found widespread throughout the country particularly in forested areas and where there is pest control.
Kererū eat buds, leaves, flowers, fruit from a wide variety species. Important leaf sources are those of kōwhai, tree lucerne, broom, willows, elms and poplars.
The Kererū's song is a sing soft, but sometimes quite penetrating , ku.
OTHER NAMES
Kereru, kukupa, kuku, wood pigeon, native pigeon, kokopa.
TŪĪ Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
Tūī are unique to New Zealand and belong to the honeyeater family. They are boisterous, common and widespread bird of forest and suburbia. They are black but in good light have a blue, green sheen and a distinctive white throat.
Tūi diet varies depending on the seasonal availability of nectar and fruits. They also eat large invertebrates such as cicadas and stick insects.
The tūī's song closely resembles that of the korimako (bellbird) and like the korimako varies song from district to district.
OTHER NAMES
Tui, tūī, parson bird, koko
MĀTUKU Botaurus poiciloptilus
The endangered mātuku are rarely seen due to their secretive behaviour. They inhabit wetlands throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand.
They eat mainly fish, including eelsm but they also take spiders, insects, worms, frogs, lizards and freshwater crayfish.
OTHER NAMES
Matuku hūrepo, boomer, brown bittern