Wild Birds Quiz: Wild Birds of New Zealand | 10 Questions

Answer: Takahe

The takahe, or notornis as it is also known, was believed to have died off completely until a small group were found living in the Murchison Mountains on the west of Lake Te Anau. There are several of these large birds in sanctuaries around New Zealand. The kahikatea is a kind of tree, and the moa and laughing owl are also extinct.

Answer: Haast's eagle

Haast's eagle was the largest eagle ever to have flown. It had a wingspan of about three metres and a weight of 9-15 kilograms, 40% heavier than any living eagle today. It was capable of carrying a moa weighing 250kg. The moa was its main source of food.

Answer: They ate other birds

There are nine species of moa the largest standing three metres tall. They have no wings not even small ones like most other flightless birds. They were hunted into extinction by early indigenous people. No European is believed to have seen a living one.

Answer: Huia

The huia is believed to have been hunted to extinction for its prized tail feathers used in the making of Maori cloaks. There have been reported sightings of the huia but they have never been substantiated so it has been declared extinct.

Answer: Kea

The kea is often found on ski fields and is notorious for its cheeky nature and propensity to destroy things. It is not uncommon for people to return to their car after a day skiing and find all the rubber torn from their roof racks and the car in worse shape than it was in the morning. These birds are a muddy green colour with brilliant orange under their wings.

Answer: Black robin

The black robin was found in the Chatham Islands group off the east coast of New Zealand. The birds on the main island were extinct due to predation leaving only small number on a smaller island. The population declined until only five were left and only one female known as Old Blue. Luckily Old Blue mated and had females in her brood.

The Department of Conservation has taken steps to save the black robin and its population, still critically endangered, is approximately 200.

Answer: Kiwi

The kiwi is often seen as New Zealand's symbol. It is the colloquial name for New Zealander and even the name of a fuzzy brown fruit. There are several kinds of kiwi and very few New Zealanders have seen one in the wild. Like many New Zealand birds they are flightless and have become endangered due to predation and habitat destruction.

They are unique having their nostrils at the tip of their long bill so they can smell grub's and worm's in the soil. The kiwi also has the largest eggs of any bird in relation to its size.

Answer: Kakapo

The kakapo, like many of New Zealand's flightless birds, is critically endangered. Like the kiwi, very few New Zealanders have ever seen one. They move slowly and are easy to catch for predators. There are about 125 left and most of them live on predator-free islands and in sanctuaries.

They are one of the longest living birds and the males have no role in raising chicks. They are a green bird with darker speckles. They were also hunted by people for their meat and their feathers used in Maori clothing.

Answer: Stephen's Island wren

The Stephen's Island wren was a small flightless bird which was killed off entirely by one animal, a lighthouse keeper's cat. There are wrens very similar on the main islands of New Zealand, but the Stephen's Island ones are all gone.

Answer: Northern royal albatross

On the tip of Otago Peninsula near Dunedin is the only mainland colony of northern royal albatrosses in the world. They are among birds which have the longest wing spans, sometimes up to three metres. The wandering albatross and the southern royal albatross are the only birds with a longer wingspan.

There have been claims the Californian condor has longer wings but there are so few in existence it is hard to substantiate that claim.