New Zealand is home to a wide variety of native bird species that fill the forests and gardens with beautiful birdsong throughout the day. However, after sunset, the songs of diurnal birds like tūī and bellbirds fade away. So which avian musicians take over the night shift in New Zealand?
The Morepork is New Zealand’s Most Famous Night Singer
The most well-known nocturnal bird in New Zealand is the morepork, also known by its Māori name ruru. This medium-sized owl is found throughout the country in woodlands and urban gardens. After dark, the morepork’s distinctive, repetitive two-note call “more-pork” dominates the nighttime soundscape.
The morepork is New Zealand’s only surviving native owl species. It is a rufous-brown owl with prominent, round facial discs and large forward-facing yellow eyes. It grows up to 35 cm in length with wingspans up to 95 cm.
Moreporks roost in secluded tree hollows during the day and emerge at dusk to hunt. They feed on large insects, spiders, and smaller birds and mammals. Using their specialized soft feathers that allow silent flight, moreporks swoop down on prey undetected.
Male moreporks sing their “more-pork” territorial calls most actively from late winter through spring during breeding season. Their songs can be heard echoing through suburban neighborhoods and rural forests throughout the night.
Other Nocturnal Native Birds
While the morepork may be the most recognizable nocturnal bird, it is not the only native New Zealand bird active after dark.
One of the more unusual night singers is the kiwi. Flightless, ground-dwelling kiwi are usually thought of as shy, secretive birds. But several kiwi species, including the rowi, tokoeka, and little spotted kiwi, make an array of unusual calls in the dark forests where they forage.
Some seabirds are also nocturnal. The Westland petrel and the rare black petrel return to land only under the cover of darkness to avoid predators. Some gull and tern species patrol beaches at night.
Weka are flightless woodland birds that spend their nights scavenging along forest floors and shorelines. Male weka can be heard at night belting out loud, fluty calls to attract mates.
Two species of ancient wading birds found only in New Zealand, the takahē and the kākāpō, are mainly active at night. Kākāpō males engage in nightly rituals called “booming” where they make deep, resonating calls and stamp their feet to attract females.
Introduced Nocturnal Birds
In addition to native species, several introduced birds brought new nighttime sounds to New Zealand’s ecosystems.
Some of the loudest calls come from large, predatory birds. Australian brush-tailed possums introduced to New Zealand became prey for laughing owls, which were later brought from Australia in the 1880s. Unfortunately, the laughing owl is now extinct in New Zealand.
Other survivors include the barn owl, a medium-sized owl with distinct heart-shaped facial discs. Its chilling, rasping screeches can be heard on farms at night. Larger Australian masked owls also hunt possums, rats, and rabbits in New Zealand forests after dark.
Smaller introduced songbirds like common blackbirds and song thrushes sing beautifully by day but also fill the night air with tunes. Their songs mark their territories and attract mates.
Common Nocturnal Introduced Birds
Common Name | Scientific Name | Origin |
---|---|---|
Barn owl | Tyto alba | Worldwide |
Laughing owl | Sceloglaux albifacies | Australia (now extinct) |
Masked owl | Tyto novaehollandiae | Australia |
Common blackbird | Turdus merula | Europe, Asia, North Africa |
Song thrush | Turdus philomelos | Europe, North Africa, Asia |
Impact of Introduced Predators on Native Birds
Many of New Zealand’s nocturnal native birds face threats from introduced mammalian predators like rats, stoats, possums, and feral cats. These predators target eggs, chicks, and adult birds.
Ground-nesting kiwi and kākāpō are especially vulnerable to predation. Their nighttime activity patterns overlap with the activity peaks of nocturnal invasive predators.
Conservation efforts to control invasive predators and restore predator-free sanctuaries continue to help protect vulnerable native nocturnal bird populations. Ongoing predator control and public education on responsible pet ownership can reduce predatory pressures.
Best Places to Hear Nocturnal Birds in New Zealand
Here are some top sites around New Zealand to experience the wonder of native birdsong after dark:
- Tawharanui Regional Park: A protected peninsula near Auckland with a large nocturnal seabird colony and active native forest at night.
- Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington: Fenced eco-sanctuary where native birds thrive at night free from predators.
- Whangawehi Catchment near Mahia Peninsula: Pristine forest with thriving populations of rare night-calling birds like kiwi, kākāpō, and takahē.
- Ulva Island: Predator-free island sanctuary off Stewart Island home to fearless, vocal kiwi and kākā.
- Orokonui Ecosanctuary: Fenced forest sanctuary near Dunedin full of native birdsong at night.
Any forested area far from urban ambient light offers opportunities to listen for ruru, kiwi, and other nocturnal native birds.
Conclusion
The still of the night air in New Zealand comes alive with the calls of its unique nocturnal native birds. The iconic songs of the ruru morepork owl are joined by the unusual sounds of kiwi, petrels, parrots, waders, and more. Though some species face ongoing threats from introduced predators, conservation efforts continue to protect populations of these special night singers.
Listening for native birds in forests and protected areas after dark provides a chance to connect with New Zealand’s distinctive natural heritage.