New Zealand is home to a diverse range of birds of prey, also known as raptors. There are around 16 species of diurnal (active during the day) raptors and 5 species of nocturnal (active at night) raptors found in New Zealand.
Diurnal Birds of Prey in New Zealand
Some of the main diurnal birds of prey found in New Zealand include:
- New Zealand Falcon
- Swamp Harrier
- Australasian Harrier
- Black Kite
- Nankeen Kestrel
- New Zealand Kestrel
- Brown Falcon
- Bush Falcon
- Peregrine Falcon
- Grey Goshawk
- White-bellied Sea Eagle
- Wedge-tailed Eagle
- Little Eagle
- Royal Albatross
- Southern Crested Caracara
- Osprey
New Zealand Falcon
The New Zealand Falcon is New Zealand’s only endemic falcon. It is found throughout the country in wooded habitats. It has dark brown plumage with white underparts that have variable dark barring. The New Zealand Falcon feeds mainly on small birds and insects.
Swamp Harrier
The Swamp Harrier is one of New Zealand’s most common harriers. As its name suggests, it occurs mainly in swampy, marshy areas and riverbeds. It has mostly brown plumage with some white markings under its wings. The Swamp Harrier eats small vertebrates like birds, reptiles and mammals as well as large insects.
Australasian Harrier
Also known as the Australasian Swamp Harrier, this raptor is found throughout New Zealand in grasslands, shrublands, forests and wetlands. It has light brown plumage with a white rump patch. The Australasian Harrier feeds on small vertebrates like rodents, lizards and frogs as well as insects.
Black Kite
The Black Kite is a medium-sized raptor found near swamps, grasslands and human settlements throughout New Zealand. It has mostly dark brown plumage with lighter brown wing patches. The Black Kite is an opportunistic feeder, eating carrion, scraps, insects and small vertebrates.
Nankeen Kestrel
The Nankeen Kestrel is a small falcon found in open habitats like grasslands and agricultural areas. As its name suggests, it has a rufous coloration. The male has blue-grey wings while the female has brown wings with barring. The Nankeen Kestrel feeds on insects, small reptiles and mammals.
New Zealand Kestrel
Closely related to the Nankeen Kestrel, the New Zealand Kestrel is endemic to New Zealand. It has more uniformly rufous plumage than the Nankeen. It occurs in open agricultural areas, grasslands and scrub habitats where it eats small vertebrates and insects.
Brown Falcon
A vagrant to New Zealand, the Brown Falcon is sometimes seen during winter in the north of the North Island. As its name indicates, its plumage is entirely brown. In its native Australia, it feeds on small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.
Bush Falcon
The Bush Falcon is a small forest falcon found in wooded areas across northern and eastern New Zealand. It has blue-grey upperparts and reddish underparts with variable dark streaking. An agile flyer, the Bush Falcon eats mostly small birds captured in flight.
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon is a large, powerful falcon found worldwide. In New Zealand, it occupies habitats ranging from alpine areas to river gorges and coastal cliffs. It can reach speeds of over 320 km/h when diving for prey like pigeons and ducks.
Grey Goshawk
A secretive forest raptor, the Grey Goshawk occupies mature native and exotic forests across New Zealand. It has slate grey upperparts and barred white underparts. The Grey Goshawk feeds mainly on birds up to the size of kererū that it ambushes from a perch.
White-bellied Sea Eagle
One of New Zealand’s largest birds of prey, the White-bellied Sea Eagle is found around coastal areas and major waterways. It has a white head and underparts and dark grey back and wings. As its name indicates, it feeds predominately on fish and other marine creatures.
Wedge-tailed Eagle
A vagrant from Australia, the Wedge-tailed Eagle is occasionally seen in northern New Zealand. It is a huge raptor with brown plumage and a characteristic wedge-shaped tail. In its native range, it preys on rabbits, hares, wallabies and large birds.
Little Eagle
Another Australian vagrant, the Little Eagle is a small, long-winged eagle sometimes sighted in northern New Zealand. It feeds mainly on rabbits, rats, lizards and insects in Australia’s arid and semi-arid interior.
Royal Albatross
With a wingspan approaching 3.5 meters, the Royal Albatross is the largest seabird found around New Zealand. Though not strictly a bird of prey, it does occasionally eat small marine animals. This mighty seabird breeds only on offshore islands in the south of New Zealand.
Southern Crested Caracara
A rare vagrant from South America, the Southern Crested Caracara has been sighted a few times in the far north of New Zealand. It has a distinctive crest and largely black plumage. In its native range, it eats carrion, eggs, reptiles and small mammals.
Osprey
The Osprey is a large fish-eating raptor that breeds in small numbers around the north and west coasts of New Zealand. It is mostly brown above with a white head and underparts. The Osprey hunts for fish by hovering over water and then dive-bombing feet first to snatch its prey.
Nocturnal Birds of Prey
New Zealand also has several species of nocturnal or night-hunting birds of prey. These include:
- Morepork
- Laughing Owl
- Barking Owl
- Rufous Owl
- Boobook Owl
Morepork
The Morepork is New Zealand’s only surviving native owl. This small owl has dark brown plumage with white spots and bright yellow eyes. Named for its two-note call, the Morepork can be found in woodland areas across the country at night hunting insects, small birds and mammals.
Laughing Owl
The Laughing Owl was a distinctive owl endemic to New Zealand that is now extinct. It was last seen in the wild in the early 1900s. As its name suggests, its call sounded like crazed human laughter. The introduction of stoats, weasels and rats led to the Laughing Owl’s demise.
Barking Owl
A rare vagrant from Australia, the Barking Owl is occasionally reported from the Northland region. As its name suggests, its call is a loud bark. In Australia, it inhabits open eucalyptus forests and woodlands where it feeds on birds, mammals and insects.
Rufous Owl
Another Australian owl sometimes seen in northern New Zealand, the Rufous Owl has reddish-brown plumage with white spots. It has a soft, low-pitched hooting call. In Australia, it hunts mammals, birds and reptiles in wooded environments.
Boobook Owl
Known as the Common Boobook in Australia, this small owl is an occasional vagrant to the Northland and Auckland regions. Its plumage is dark chocolate brown with pale spots. It preys on insects and small vertebrates in open wooded habitats in Australia.
Endangered Birds of Prey in New Zealand
Several of New Zealand’s endemic raptors are threatened with extinction and have small, declining populations. These include:
- New Zealand Falcon – Nationally Vulnerable
- Swamp Harrier – Nationally Vulnerable
- New Zealand Kestrel – Nationally Vulnerable
- Morepork – Declining
Habitat loss and predation by introduced mammals have caused declines in these native birds of prey. Ongoing conservation efforts aim to protect remaining habitat and control invasive predators like stoats and possums.
Extinct Birds of Prey in New Zealand
Sadly, some of New Zealand’s unique raptors have been lost forever due to extinction after humans arrived in the country. These extinct birds of prey include:
- Haast’s Eagle
- Eyles’ Harrier
- Laughing Owl
Haast’s Eagle
The largest known eagle in the world, Haast’s Eagle was once New Zealand’s top predator. This massive raptor had a wingspan of up to 3 meters and preyed on large flightless birds like moa. It disappeared around 1400 AD after overhunting and habitat destruction by early Māori settlers.
Eyles’ Harrier
Eyles’ Harrier was a small forest harrier found on the South Island. It had brown upperparts, reddish underparts and bright yellow legs. Extensive forest clearance and predation by rats led to its extinction sometime in the early 1900s.
Laughing Owl
As mentioned earlier, the bizarre-sounding Laughing Owl was wiped out in the early 1900s due to predation by invasive mammals. Its extinction represents one of New Zealand’s greatest conservation tragedies.
Conclusion
In summary, New Zealand is home to a range of diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey. Some species like the New Zealand Falcon are found nowhere else on Earth. Tragically, habitat loss and invasive predators have already driven some endemic raptors to extinction. Ongoing conservation efforts aim to protect vulnerable birds of prey so future generations can continue to experience these remarkable hunters soaring New Zealand’s skies.