Field notes
Practical notes on New Zealand birds and places, newest first. Use the habitat buttons to narrow the list.
Anywhere
Birding etiquette and biosecurity
How to watch New Zealand birds without disturbing them, and how to keep rats, ants and weed seeds out of your pack before visiting a pest-free island.
28 October 2026
Garden
Backyard birds of New Zealand gardens
The tūī, pīwakawaka, tauhou and other birds most likely to turn up in a New Zealand garden, and how to tell them apart by sight and sound.
28 October 2026
Island sanctuary
Island sanctuaries: Tiritiri Matangi, Zealandia and Ulva
Three of New Zealand's best places to see rare forest birds up close: how each sanctuary works, what to look for, and the biosecurity that keeps them safe.
28 October 2026
Open ocean
Pelagic seabirds from New Zealand boats
Albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters from the Hauraki Gulf, Kaikōura and the ferries: where to go, when, and how to tell the commoner tubenoses apart.
28 October 2026
Open ocean
Birding the subantarctic islands
Albatross, penguins and island endemics on New Zealand's five subantarctic island groups: what lives where, how visits work, and the strict biosecurity rules.
28 October 2026
Forest
Ten endemic birds and where to see them
Kiwi, kea, kākā, takahē, kōkako and five more birds found only in New Zealand, with the habitat, season and places that give you the best chance.
28 October 2026
Anywhere
Planning a birding trip around New Zealand
How to plan your own birding route around Aotearoa: what to target, when to go, island access, biosecurity and when a licensed guide is worth it.
28 October 2026