New Zealand bird checklist
389 bird species in 68 families have been recorded in New Zealand, according to eBird; about 301 of them are seen regularly, and the rest are rarities, vagrants and escaped or introduced birds. Download the full list as a PDF, or tick birds off on your phone, with counts and notes, even without signal.
Species data: eBird.org, updated · How these lists are made
The most common birds in New Zealand right now
1Australasian Swamphen
2European Starling
3House Sparrow
4Silvereye
5Bar-tailed Godwit
6Welcome Swallow
7Kelp Gull
8European Goldfinch
9Masked Lapwing
10Silver Gull
New Zealand bird checklist
389 species · loading the checklist tools…
Ostriches
- Common Ostrich
Cassowaries and Emu
- Emu
Kiwis
- Southern Brown Kiwi
- Okarito Brown Kiwi
- North Island Brown Kiwi
- Little Spotted Kiwi
- Great Spotted Kiwi
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
- Plumed Whistling-Duck
- Graylag Goose
- Swan Goose
- Canada Goose
- Cape Barren Goose
- Mute Swan
- Black Swan
- Australian Shelduck
- Paradise Shelduck
- Muscovy Duck
- Wood Duck
- Mandarin Duck
- Maned Duck
- Blue Duck
- Australasian Shoveler
- Northern Shoveler
- Pacific Black Duck
- Mallard
- Northern Pintail
- Gray Teal
- Chestnut Teal
- Auckland Islands Teal
- Campbell Islands Teal
- Brown Teal
- Pink-eared Duck
- Hardhead
- New Zealand Scaup
Guineafowl
- Helmeted Guineafowl
New World Quail
- California Quail
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
- Wild Turkey
- Golden Pheasant
- Lady Amherst's Pheasant
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Swinhoe's Pheasant
- Silver Pheasant
- Indian Peafowl
- Red Junglefowl
- Brown Quail
- Blue-breasted Quail
- Red-legged Partridge
- Chukar
Pigeons and Doves
- Rock Pigeon
- African Collared-Dove
- Spotted Dove
- Crested Pigeon
- Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove
- New Zealand Pigeon
- Chatham Islands Pigeon
Cuckoos
- Long-tailed Koel
- Channel-billed Cuckoo
- Shining Bronze-Cuckoo
- Pallid Cuckoo
- Fan-tailed Cuckoo
- Oriental Cuckoo
Swifts
- White-throated Needletail
- Pacific Swift
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
- Auckland Islands Rail
- Weka
- Buff-banded Rail
- Black-tailed Nativehen
- Dusky Moorhen
- Eurasian Coot
- South Island Takahe
- Australasian Swamphen
- Baillon's Crake
- Spotless Crake
Stilts and Avocets
- Pied Stilt
- Black Stilt
Oystercatchers
- South Island Oystercatcher
- Chatham Islands Oystercatcher
- Variable Oystercatcher
Plovers and Lapwings
- Black-bellied Plover
- American Golden-Plover
- Pacific Golden-Plover
- Common Ringed Plover
- Semipalmated Plover
- Black-fronted Dotterel
- Shore Plover
- Masked Lapwing
- Red-kneed Dotterel
- Oriental Plover
- Siberian Sand-Plover
- Greater Sand-Plover
- Double-banded Plover
- Wrybill
- Red-breasted Dotterel
- Red-capped Plover
Painted-Snipes
- Australian Painted-Snipe
Sandpipers and Allies
- Hudsonian Whimbrel
- Eurasian Whimbrel
- Little Curlew
- Far Eastern Curlew
- Eurasian Curlew
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Black-tailed Godwit
- Hudsonian Godwit
- Asian Dowitcher
- South Island Snipe
- Chatham Islands Snipe
- Snares Snipe
- Subantarctic Snipe
- Latham's Snipe
- Wilson's Phalarope
- Red Phalarope
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Terek Sandpiper
- Common Sandpiper
- Gray-tailed Tattler
- Wandering Tattler
- Marsh Sandpiper
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Common Greenshank
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Great Knot
- Red Knot
- Ruff
- Broad-billed Sandpiper
- Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Stilt Sandpiper
- Long-toed Stint
- Red-necked Stint
- Buff-breasted Sandpiper
- Sanderling
- Dunlin
- Baird's Sandpiper
- Little Stint
- Least Sandpiper
- Pectoral Sandpiper
- Western Sandpiper
Pratincoles and Coursers
- Oriental Pratincole
Skuas and Jaegers
- Long-tailed Jaeger
- Parasitic Jaeger
- Pomarine Jaeger
- Brown Skua
- South Polar Skua
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
- Silver Gull
- Black-billed Gull
- Laughing Gull
- Franklin's Gull
- Kelp Gull
- Blue-billed White-Tern
- Brown Noddy
- Black Noddy
- Gray Noddy
- Sooty Tern
- Bridled Tern
- Gray-backed Tern
- Little Tern
- Australian Fairy Tern
- Gull-billed Tern
- Australian Tern
- Caspian Tern
- Whiskered Tern
- Black-fronted Tern
- Black Tern
- White-winged Tern
- Arctic Tern
- Antarctic Tern
- Common Tern
- Black-naped Tern
- White-fronted Tern
- Great Crested Tern
Grebes
- Australasian Grebe
- Hoary-headed Grebe
- New Zealand Grebe
- Great Crested Grebe
Tropicbirds
- White-tailed Tropicbird
- Red-tailed Tropicbird
Penguins
- King Penguin
- Emperor Penguin
- Adelie Penguin
- Gentoo Penguin
- Chinstrap Penguin
- Yellow-eyed Penguin
- Little Penguin
- Fiordland Penguin
- Erect-crested Penguin
- Macaroni Penguin
- Royal Penguin
- Eastern Rockhopper Penguin
- Moseley's Rockhopper Penguin
- Snares Penguin
Albatrosses
- Northern Royal Albatross
- Southern Royal Albatross
- Snowy Albatross
- Antipodean Albatross
- Laysan Albatross
- Sooty Albatross
- Light-mantled Albatross
- Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross
- Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
- Gray-headed Albatross
- Buller's Albatross
- White-capped Albatross
- Salvin's Albatross
- Chatham Albatross
- Black-browed Albatross
Southern Storm-Petrels
- Wilson's Storm-Petrel
- Gray-backed Storm-Petrel
- White-faced Storm-Petrel
- White-bellied Storm-Petrel
- New Zealand Storm-Petrel
- Black-bellied Storm-Petrel
Northern Storm-Petrels
- Leach's Storm-Petrel
Shearwaters and Petrels
- Southern Giant-Petrel
- Northern Giant-Petrel
- Northern Fulmar
- Southern Fulmar
- Antarctic Petrel
- Pintado Petrel
- Kerguelen Petrel
- Gray-faced Petrel
- Kermadec Petrel
- Magenta Petrel
- Herald Petrel
- Providence Petrel
- Soft-plumaged Petrel
- White-headed Petrel
- Mottled Petrel
- Juan Fernandez Petrel
- White-necked Petrel
- Black-winged Petrel
- Chatham Islands Petrel
- Cook's Petrel
- Gould's Petrel
- Collared Petrel
- Stejneger's Petrel
- Pycroft's Petrel
- Phoenix Petrel
- Blue Petrel
- Fairy Prion
- Broad-billed Prion
- Salvin's Prion
- Antarctic Prion
- Slender-billed Prion
- Fulmar Prion
- Tahiti Petrel
- Gray Petrel
- White-chinned Petrel
- Parkinson's Petrel
- Westland Petrel
- Streaked Shearwater
- Pink-footed Shearwater
- Flesh-footed Shearwater
- Great Shearwater
- Wedge-tailed Shearwater
- Buller's Shearwater
- Sooty Shearwater
- Short-tailed Shearwater
- Christmas Shearwater
- Hutton's Shearwater
- Fluttering Shearwater
- Little Shearwater
- Subantarctic Shearwater
- Common Diving-Petrel
- South Georgia Diving-Petrel
Frigatebirds
- Lesser Frigatebird
- Great Frigatebird
Boobies and Gannets
- Cape Gannet
- Australasian Gannet
- Red-footed Booby
- Brown Booby
- Masked Booby
Anhingas
- Australasian Darter
Cormorants and Shags
- Little Pied Cormorant
- Great Cormorant
- Spotted Shag
- Pitt Island Shag
- Little Black Cormorant
- Pied Cormorant
- Bounty Islands Shag
- New Zealand King Shag
- Stewart Island Shag
- Chatham Islands Shag
- Auckland Islands Shag
- Campbell Islands Shag
Ibises and Spoonbills
- Glossy Ibis
- Australian Ibis
- Straw-necked Ibis
- Royal Spoonbill
- Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
- Australasian Bittern
- Black-backed Bittern
- Nankeen Night Heron
- Pacific Reef-Heron
- Little Egret
- White-faced Heron
- Eastern Cattle-Egret
- Pacific Heron
- Great Egret
- Plumed Egret
Pelicans
- Australian Pelican
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
- Wedge-tailed Eagle
- Swamp Harrier
- Black Kite
Barn-Owls
- Eastern Barn Owl
Owls
- Little Owl
- Morepork
- Laughing Owl
Kingfishers
- Laughing Kookaburra
- Sacred Kingfisher
Rollers
- Dollarbird
Falcons and Caracaras
- Nankeen Kestrel
- New Zealand Falcon
New Zealand Parrots
- Kea
- New Zealand Kaka
- Kakapo
Cockatoos
- Cockatiel
- Galah
- Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Old World Parrots
- Australian King-Parrot
- Rose-ringed Parakeet
- Antipodes Parakeet
- Red-crowned Parakeet
- Reischek's Parakeet
- Yellow-crowned Parakeet
- Chatham Islands Parakeet
- Malherbe's Parakeet
- Crimson Rosella
- Eastern Rosella
- Budgerigar
- Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
- Rainbow Lorikeet
- Red-collared Lorikeet
- Rosy-faced Lovebird
- Fischer's Lovebird
- Yellow-collared Lovebird
New Zealand Wrens
- Rifleman
- Bush Wren
- South Island Wren
Honeyeaters
- Tui
- New Zealand Bellbird
Thornbills and Allies
- Gray Gerygone
- Chatham Islands Gerygone
Cuckooshrikes
- Black-faced Cuckooshrike
- White-winged Triller
Whiteheads
- Whitehead
- Yellowhead
- Pipipi
Woodswallows, Bellmagpies, and Allies
- Masked Woodswallow
- White-browed Woodswallow
- Dusky Woodswallow
- Australian Magpie
Fantails
- Willie-wagtail
- New Zealand Fantail
Monarch Flycatchers
- Magpie-lark
- Satin Flycatcher
Crows, Jays, and Magpies
- Rook
Wattlebirds
- North Island Kokako
- South Island Kokako
- North Island Saddleback
- South Island Saddleback
- Huia
Stitchbird
- Stitchbird
Australasian Robins
- Tomtit
- Black Robin
- North Island Robin
- South Island Robin
Larks
- Eurasian Skylark
Reed Warblers and Allies
- Australian Reed Warbler
Grassbirds and Allies
- New Zealand Fernbird
Swallows
- Welcome Swallow
- Fairy Martin
- Tree Martin
Bulbuls
- Red-vented Bulbul
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies
- Silvereye
Starlings
- European Starling
- Common Myna
Thrushes and Allies
- Song Thrush
- Eurasian Blackbird
Waxbills and Allies
- Zebra Finch
Accentors
- Dunnock
Old World Sparrows
- House Sparrow
Wagtails and Pipits
- New Zealand Pipit
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
- Common Chaffinch
- European Greenfinch
- Redpoll
- European Goldfinch
- Island Canary
Old World Buntings
- Cirl Bunting
- Yellowhammer
Most common birds in New Zealand
Ranked by how recently and how widely each was reported to eBird in the 30 days to 2026-10-13, and whether it is one of New Zealand’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.
- Australasian SwamphenPorphyrio melanotus
- European StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- SilvereyeZosterops lateralis
- Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica
- Welcome SwallowHirundo neoxena
- Kelp GullLarus dominicanus
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Masked LapwingVanellus miles
- Silver GullChroicocephalus novaehollandiae
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Buff-banded RailGallirallus philippensis
- Paradise ShelduckTadorna variegata
- Variable OystercatcherHaematopus unicolor
- White-faced HeronEgretta novaehollandiae
- Common ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Common MynaAcridotheres tristis
- Rock PigeonColumba livia
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
Largest bird families in New Zealand
Among its regular birds.
- Shearwaters and Petrels41
- Sandpipers and Allies29
- Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl24
- Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers19
- Plovers and Lapwings16
- Albatrosses13
- Cormorants and Shags12
- Rails, Gallinules, and Coots10
Reported in the last 30 days
195 species reported to eBird in New Zealand in the 30 days to 2026-10-13. The 40 most recently reported:
New Zealand Kaka, Morepork, Little Owl, Paradise Shelduck, Variable Oystercatcher, Australasian Swamphen, Eurasian Blackbird, Tui, New Zealand Bellbird, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, European Starling, Dunnock, European Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Gray Gerygone, Common Chaffinch, New Zealand Fantail, Weka, Great Spotted Kiwi, Brown Teal, Buff-banded Rail, Ring-necked Pheasant, House Sparrow, European Greenfinch, Song Thrush, California Quail, Silver Gull, Swamp Harrier, Kelp Gull, Masked Lapwing, Redpoll, Australian Magpie, Eastern Rosella, North Island Robin, New Zealand Pigeon, Common Myna, Tomtit, Sacred Kingfisher, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, …
Get to know some of them
Eurasian Blackbird
Buff-banded Rail
White-faced Heron
Common Chaffinch
Common Myna
Rock Pigeon
European Greenfinch
Ring-necked Pheasant
Pied Stilt
Caspian Tern
Song Thrush
Dunnock
Great Cormorant
Australian Magpie
Ruddy Turnstone