There have been 12 systematic nationwide winter censuses of royal spoonbill (Platalea regia) in New Zealand. The first was done in 1977, then a yearly set during the 1990s, followed by censuses in 2000, 2012, and 2024. The population remained low until the 1990s and then increased at an average rate of 8.3% per annum. There were fewer than 50 birds in the 1970s and at least 4593 by 2024. The population growth has been paralleled by an increase in the number of breeding colonies, based on records of their initial discovery and systematic nationwide surveys in the 2013-14 and 2024-25 breeding seasons. Since the 1980s, new colonies were established at sites from Marlborough down the east coast of the South Island, reaching a total of ten new colonies by 2005. In the 2013 survey, 17 colonies were found in the South Island and two in the North Island. By the 2024 survey, 25 were found in the South Island and 11 in the North Island, indicating a northwards range expansion. The total number of nests recorded in 2013 was 630, and in 2024 was 470.
Terrestrial birds were surveyed on Rangitahua/Raoul Island in November 2023 closely following methods used in 1967, 1994, 1998, and 2008. Our counts sampled drier, lower-altitude coastal forest (<150 m a.s.l.) on Boat Cove Road and wetter, higher-altitude forest (>300 m a.s.l.) on Denham Bay and Top Tracks, both of which had been sampled previously. Six indigenous species, puweto/spotless crake (Zapornia tabuensis), pukeko (Porphyrio porphyrio), red-crowned k & amacr;k & amacr;riki (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cyanurus), k & omacr;tare/sacred kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus), t & umacr;i (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), and welcome swallow/warou (Hirundo neoxena), and three exotic species, Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula), song thrush (T. philomelos) and common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) were detected. In 5-min bird counts, tui was the most commonly detected species followed by kakariki, puweto, common starling, Eurasian blackbird, song thrush, pukeko, kotare, and welcome swallow. Kakariki, tui, and common starling were more numerous in the lower-altitude forest, while the numbers of puweto, Eurasian blackbird, and song thrush were similar in both higher-and lower-altitude forests. Comparing the same subset of terrestrial birds, i.e. kakariki, tui, Eurasian blackbird, song thrush, common starling, and yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) surveyed previously, overall detection rates were significantly higher in 2023 than in 1967. The increase was largely due to significantly increased numbers of tui and kakariki. Since 1967, the composition of Rangitahua's terrestrial avifauna has shifted from exotic to indigenous dominance. Relative abundances of some terrestrial birds have also changed, especially p & umacr;weto, kakariki, tui, common starling, and song thrush. Kakariki and puweto were absent before 2008. Among the exotic birds, common starling and song thrush declined as proportions of total birds while Eurasian blackbird fluctuated. Feral goats (Capra hircus), rats (Rattus norvegicus and R. exulans), and cats (Felis catus) were respectively eradicated from Rangitahua in 1972-84, 2002 and 2004. Increased indigenous dominance and changing proportions of species on Rangitahua accord with findings elsewhere following pest mammal removal.
The channel-billed cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae is an occasional vagrant to Aotearoa New Zealand, with eight confirmed records. There are three described subspecies: the nominate form from Australia; S. n. fordi from Sulawesi; and S. n. schoddei from the Bismarck Archipelago. No previous studies have identified the subspecific identity of any channel-billed cuckoos in New Zealand. I compare published measurements with my own measurements of museum specimens, and conclude that two of the New Zealand vagrant specimens are identifiable as the Australian subspecies, S. n. novaehollandiae (as expected, given geographical proximity), while other records are indeterminate. I suggest that this name be added to the official Checklist. I also briefly present some incidental nomenclatural comments for this species.
Understanding the population status and trends of wetland species such as pūweto / spotless crake (Zapornia tabuensis) is essential for managing these cryptic birds, which are affected by predation and whose habitat is increasingly threatened by climate change. A paired observer–autonomous acoustic survey concerning part of the Whangamarino Wetland was completed in late winter 2025. Sampling was at linear 100 m intervals and detected pūweto within population clusters that would have been undetected by best practice surveys utilising 200 m intervals, thereby capturing finer scale spatial patterns associated with preferred habitat clusters. Autonomous survey counts along willow (Salix cinerea) wetland margins did not differ statistically from observer solicited point counts. These results indicate that autonomous data collection may have utility as a cost effective best practice monitoring protocol for this cryptic wetland species. Uneven detection rates across the study site reinforce the importance of systema
The kākāpō Strigops habroptilus Gray, 1845 has a complicated nomenclatural history. This paper sheds light on the correct spelling of three specific names in the genus, and the gender of the generic name, as interpreted through the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. In short: Strigops Gray, 1845 is feminine, as ruled by the Commission in Declaration 26; Strigops habroptilus Gray, 1845 and Strigops insulaborealis Worthy et al., 2026 are the correct spellings of the specific names, as nouns in apposition, through Article 31.2 and also through the application of the Glossary; and Strigops habroptilus innominata Mathews & Iredale, 1913 is the correct spelling of that currently unrecognised name. An updated entry for each taxon for the Checklist of the birds of New Zealand is also provided.
