Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
In 3 days >90%
The kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae), also known as kūkupa (northern Māori dialects), New Zealand pigeon or wood pigeon, is a species of pigeon native to New Zealand. Johann Friedrich Gmelin described the bird in 1789 as a large, conspicuous pigeon up to 50 cm (20 in) in length and 550–850 g (19–30 oz) in weight, with a white breast and iridescent green–blue plumage. Two subspecies have been recognised; the second—the Norfolk pigeon of Norfolk Island—became extinct in the early 20th century. Kererū pairs are monogamous, breeding over successive seasons and remaining together when not breeding. They construct nests with twigs in trees, with a single egg clutch.
Found in a variety of habitats across the country, the kererū feeds mainly on fruits, as well as leaves, buds and flowers. Although widespread in both forest and urban habitats, its numbers have declined significantly since European colonisation and the arrival of invasive mammals, such as rats, stoats and possums. However, the results of nationwide bird surveys indicate that there has been a significant recovery in the population in suburban areas. As of 2022, the IUCN Red List classifies the species as least concern, while the Department of Conservation (DOC) classifies the kererū as "not threatened" but conservation dependent.
Considered a taonga (cultural treasure) to the Māori people, the kererū was historically a major food source in Māori culture. However, due to the decline in its population, hunting is illegal. Customary use of kererū is restricted to the use of feathers and bones obtained from dead birds collected by DOC. This issue has received significant public and political attention, as some people argue that bans on kererū hunting are detrimental to Māori traditions. In 2018, the kererū was designated Bird of the Year by the New Zealand organisation Forest & Bird, and in 2019, the exoplanet HD 137388 b was renamed Kererū in its honour. Wikipedia →
Song1:30
New Zealand · 2015
© Dan Lane · XC293310 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Call0:44
New Zealand · 2024
© Ken George · XC933702 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Recording0:30
New Zealand · 2022
© andrewmaungakotukutuku · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Egmont National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 6 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orana Wildlife Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Hamilton Zoo | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Auckland Zoo | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Willowbank Wildlife Reserve | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 6 | Paradise Valley Springs | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 7 | Kiwi Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 8 | Ōtorohanga Kiwi House | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
No species of the same family or order lives in Rakiura National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other birds.
Very likely
About 70% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Pigeon sighting in Rakiura National Park on a given day, based on 1,788 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 9th most-seen of the 80 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January to March
In those months about 80% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Pigeon in Rakiura National Park on a given day, against about 50% in May to July, the lowest months.
Between 2 and 5 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most New Zealand Pigeon sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 6 parks where we can rate New Zealand Pigeon sightings, Rakiura National Park has the highest daily chance: about 70%. Next come Egmont National Park (New Zealand, about 50%) and Abel Tasman National Park (New Zealand, about 40%). All parks ranked.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the New Zealand Pigeon is recorded against all the birds logged in Rakiura National Park (1,788 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
