These 6 stoat facts will teach you about these mammalian predators. They may be small, but they cause havoc in New Zealand. Ever since I first came to New Zealand I’ve been hearing about stoats. I’ve heard stories about how they kill birds, and eat…
Category: Animals
nature facts about the animals of new zealand, birds, reptiles, mammals, and more.
New Zealand’s natural world is so unique that it has been listed as a biodiversity hotspot. Unfortunately, introduced species, including the big three predators threaten that. The islands of New Zealand evolved for millions of years in the absence of mammalian predators. The lack of…
The Kea is a cheeky New Zealand native bird. This special bird is the only alpine parrot in the world and it lives only in NZ (it’s endemic to NZ). New Zealand is an amazing country full of breathtaking landscapes and unique birds. Some of…
The 3 native birds of prey in New Zealand are the Morepork, New Zealand Falcon, and the Australian Harrier Hawk. These 3 birds make their home in this island country. Some of the most iconic wildlife in the country of New Zealand are birds. A…
Yellow-eyed penguins are one of New Zealand’s special birds. Here are 8 facts about these unique endemic birds that breed on the South Island. New Zealand is home to so many cool birds, like the Kereru, Tui, Kiwi, and Kea. I’ve written about some of…
The New Zealand Robin is a delightful endemic bird to see when tramping. Here are 8 facts to help you appreciate this special bird. I used to live in the Rocky Mountains of the USA and we would often see Robins flying about. They were…
Native, endemic, and introduced are terms that describe a plant or animal. Here is a quick overview on what those terms mean and examples of each in New Zealand. There are thousands of species of plants and animals found throughout the world. Some of them…
The Kereru, or New Zealand Native Pigeon is a beautiful, fat, clumsy bird that I love. Here are 9 facts about this common New Zealand bird. My son and I recently took part in the Great Kereru Count in New Zealand. This was a week…
Bats are the only land mammals that lived in New Zealand for millions of years. The two endemic bats are the Long-tailed bat and Lesser Short-tailed bat. Yes, as crazy as it seems it’s true that New Zealand had no other mammals. The land that…
The Fantail is one of the most common New Zealand birds that you will see. Here are 8 facts about this friendly, curious native New Zealand bird. It seems like just about anytime I go for a walk in a park or forest in New…