Plateau Lark

A small endemic songbird found only on the North Island of New Zealand. Note distinctive whitish head and underparts. Females and juveniles have cinnamon tinge to crown and nape. Often encountered in small feeding flocks that move quickly and loudly through the canopy with harsh chattering calls, trills, and slurs. Favors tall native forest and shrubs. Although a reluctant flier, the species is agile and acrobatic as it forages for insects, often hanging upside down. Male has a clear canary-like song. Adults can be seen feeding far larger Long-tailed Koel chicks, as this species is a favored host of that nest parasite.

Small distinctive duck. Males have a pinkish breast that is spotted in black with a rich chestnut wing and a metallic green patch on the flight feathers. Note the blue bill. Females have a striking brown-and-white face pattern, and are mostly brown above and mottled or banded brown below. In flight shows dark wings with white-and-green bands. Occurs in marshes and swamps with abundant vegetation; can be even seen perched on fences or low trees.

Large wheatear with dark black head and back, and pure white breast and belly. Sexes alike. Extremely similar to the male of the picata form of Variable Wheatear, but Hume’s Wheatear is larger, with a larger bill and longer wings, and the black doesn’t extend past the throat, while the white extends farther up the back. Inhabits barren hills and rocky slopes, where it forages on the ground for invertebrates. The song is thrush-like with some sweet and buzzy notes. The call is a harsh “chuk.”