Go to the new Waikawa News site.
Sign up for the monthly Waikawa Newsletter.

quiz (33)

Small stunned bird in hand, with bright yellow wingbars.

33 He aha tērā? Goldfinch

Adults of this almost sparrow-sized but lighter bird have a bright red, white and black face. It’s a pale coloured bird with a distinctive bright yellow stripe on its black wing. They’re often seen in flocks. If you hear a shrill, clear pee-yu, that’s this bird. He aha tērā? What is that? Photo by Miraz Jordan. Used with permission. A…

Squat bird, dark above and light below with distinctive stubby black beak, atop a white structure. .

32 He aha tērā? Kingfisher

You may see this squat bird hunched on your washing line or on a power line. Or maybe it’ll suddenly dive down to the ground and come back up with a lizard or bug in its large black bill. Green above and creamy-beige below, you’ll know this bird when you see it. He aha tērā? What is that? Photo by…

Large blue-tinted bird with white tufts at throat on a flax spear.

31 He aha tērā? Tūī

This boisterous, medium-sized dark coloured bird chortles and squawks, cough, grunts and wheezes when it’s not singing prettily. Commonly seen feeding on flax flowers, it has an erratic whirring flight. It’s best known though for the white tufts at its throat. He aha tērā? What is that? Photo by Kezna Cameron. Used with permission. Answer: it’s a tūī, kōkō: Identification:…

Small bird on flax spear.

30 He aha tērā? Chaffinch

This sparrow-sized bird may have a brick-red breast, a grey-blue head and stripes on its wings. Its call is a fairly simple ‘cheep’. He aha tērā? What is that? Photo by Miraz Jordan. Used with permission. Answer: it’s a pahirini, chaffinch: Identification: Length: 14.5 cm; Weight: 17.5 - 24.5 g Similar species: House sparrow A small songbird species in which…

Speckled bird on fence post.

29 He aha tērā? Thrush

This medium sized brown bird sings from treetops and forages for snails, worms, spiders and slugs. Its speckled chest is very distinctive. Most people will be familiar with this common bird. He aha tērā? What is that? Photo by Kezna Cameron. Used with permission. Answer: it’s a thrush: Identification: Length: 21 -23 cm; Weight: 70 g Similar species: Eurasian blackbird…

Transparent blue almost finger shaped object on the sand.

28 He aha tērā? What is that?

These elegant blue transparent creatures show up on the beach sometimes. They stand up in a kind of horn with a skirt around and a trailing blue ‘string’. It’s not a good idea to tangle with them as they can sting when alive, and even when dead. He aha tērā? What is that? Photo by Miraz Jordan. Used with permission.