Listed below are only some of the bird species found in The Catlins and some places where you may see them. Look at the Nature and Wildlife - Birds section for more information.
Little Blue Penguins
Found all along The Catlins coast where they nest in caves and burrows. (Difficult to see because they go and come from the sea in the dark.)
Yellow-eyed Penguin
Roaring Bay (Nugget Point), Curio Bay, Long Point.
The spotted and Otago shags
Resident and nesting at Nugget Point, At sea off The Catlins coast.
Black Shags
Coastal estuaries and most rivers.
Red billed and black-backed gulls and other variety of gull species
All coasts and estuaries.
White Fronted Terns (Tara)
At sea and roosting on rocky islets, especially Nugget Point. Beaches and estuaries, especially in rough weather.
Petrels
From Nugget Point out at sea.
Gannets
From Nugget Point out at sea.
Albatross
From Nugget Point, Long Point and Curio Bay out at sea.
Torea (Oystercatcher – 2 species)
Black or variable oyster-catcher: all rocky and sandy shores.
Pied oystercatcher: Estuaries and farmland.
Herons (2 species)
All estuaries and rocky shores.
Pied Stilt (Poaka)
All estuaries and beaches.
Sooty Shearwaters
Seen from Nugget Point, Long Point and Curio Bay out at sea.
Tuturiwhatu (Dotterel)
In the larger estuaries: Catlins lake, Tahakopa, Waikawa, Haldane.
Spur-winged Plovers
All sandy shores and in the open Country of The Catlins.
Caspian Tern (Taranui)
In the larger estuaries: Catlins lake, Tahakopa, Waikawa, Haldane.
Duck (at least 3 species)
All estuaries and Rivers in The Catlins.
Kingfisher (Kotare)
All estuaries and Rivers in The Catlins and some rocky shores.
Crested Royal Spoonbills
The larger estuaries: Catlins lake, Tahakopa, Waikawa, Haldane.
Godwits (Kuaka)
The larger estuaries: Catlins Lake, Tahakopa, Waikawa, Haldane, Pounawea Bush and Nature Walk.
The larger Fern birds
All estuaries and wetlands: Tautuku boardwalk, Shank’s Bush at Papatowai, Pounawea.
Pukeko
Wetlands and adjacent farmlands throughout The Catlins
Mohua (Yellowhead)
Catlins River Track - along The Catlins River.
New Zealand Wood pigeon (Kereru)
All forest walking tracks in The Catlins.
Fantail (Piwakawaka)
Found at Kaka Point, Papatowai, Pounawea and all forest walking tracks in The Catlins.
Tui
Lake Wilkie, Kaka Point and surrounding area, Pounewa,Owaka, Papatowai, and all forest walking tracks in The Catlins.
Bellbird (Korimako)
Lake Wilkie, Kaka Point and surrounding area, Pounawea, Owaka, Papatowai and all forest walking tracks in The Catlins.
Pipipi (Brown Creeper)
All forest walking tracks in The Catlins.
Riroriro (Grey Warbler)
All forest walking tracks in The Catlins.
Miromiro (Tomtit)
All forest walking tracks in The Catlins.
Ruru (Morepork)
All forest walking tracks in The Catlins. Nocturnal bird seen evenings and night.
Kakariki (Parakeet)
Relatively rare: along forest walking tracks in The Catlins, Catlins River, Tahakopa bay and Tautuku.
Titipounamu (Rifleman)
Relatively rare: along forest walking tracks in The Catlins: Catlins River walk best location.
Chaffinch
Forest walking tracks and clearings, especially Catlins River track.
Yellow Hammer
The open Country of The Catlins.
Blackbird
Farmland, gardens, forest fringes.
Thrush
Farmland, gardens, forest fringes.
Red Poll
Farmland, gardens, forest canopy.
New Zealand Pipit
The open Country and beaches of The Catlins.
New Zealand Hawk
Throughout, especially taking carrion on the roads.
Karearea (Falcon)
Rare: forest and open country near forest throughout.
