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Lore › Birds by region › New Zealand
Birds of New Zealand
Lore covers 302 bird species that have been recorded in New Zealand, and 169 of them are regular birds you can reasonably expect to see. You learn them from real photos taken by birders, one question at a time: pick the right name, earn points and keep a daily streak. It is free and it works in your browser, no app needed.
The most common birds in New Zealand
These are the birds you will meet first. Lore starts every guide with the common species, so you learn what you actually see in the field.
- New Zealand PigeonResident
Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae - TūīResident
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae - New Zealand FantailResident
Rhipidura fuliginosa - Silver GullResident
Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae - Kelp GullResident
Larus dominicanus - Paradise ShelduckResident
Tadorna variegata - Eurasian BlackbirdResident
Turdus merula - Variable OystercatcherResident
Haematopus unicolor - Pied CormorantResident
Phalacrocorax varius - New Zealand BellbirdResident
Anthornis melanura - Australasian SwamphenResident
Porphyrio melanotus - House SparrowResident
Passer domesticus - White-faced HeronResident
Egretta novaehollandiae - Little Pied CormorantResident
Microcarbo melanoleucos - MallardResident
Anas platyrhynchos - SilvereyeResident
Zosterops lateralis - Sacred KingfisherResident
Todiramphus sanctus - New Zealand KakaResident
Nestor meridionalis - Black SwanResident
Cygnus atratus - New Zealand ScaupResident
Aythya novaeseelandiae - WekaResident
Gallirallus australis - TomtitResident
Petroica macrocephala - White-fronted TernResident
Sterna striata - Pied StiltResident
Himantopus leucocephalus - Common ChaffinchResident
Fringilla coelebs - South Island RobinResident
Petroica australis - Song ThrushResident
Turdus philomelos - Welcome SwallowResident
Hirundo neoxena - Little PenguinResident
Eudyptula minor - Royal SpoonbillResident
Platalea regia - Masked LapwingResident
Vanellus miles - Australian MagpieResident
Gymnorhina tibicen - New Zealand PloverResident
Anarhynchus obscurus - South Island Pied OystercatcherResident
Haematopus finschi - KeaResident
Nestor notabilis - European StarlingResident
Sturnus vulgaris
Birds in New Zealand through the year
Of the 169 regular birds in New Zealand, Lore counts 136 resident species that stay all year, 24 summer visitors and 1 passage migrants. The rest are partly migratory or irregular.
Most species are present in January (168 regular birds) and the fewest in June (140). Lore's guides follow the seasons, so you can learn the birds that are around this month, or the ones that arrive next month.
Regular birds present per month.
Which bird families are most common in New Zealand?
The families with the most regular species in New Zealand are Ducks, Geese, and Swans (15), Shearwaters and Petrels (14), Cormorants and Shags (11), Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (10) and Albatrosses (8).
How Lore teaches you the birds
- Real photos. Every picture was taken by a birder and credited in the game.
- Guides for your region. Common birds, year-round birds, summer and winter visitors, birds by family, and more.
- A daily mystery bird. Clues first, the photo last.
- Challenges. Play the same birds as your friends in a group, or join the open Ultimate Birders' Challenge.
More birds in Oceania
Frequently asked questions
How many birds can I learn in New Zealand? Lore has 302 species for New Zealand, of which 169 are regular. The most common are the New Zealand Pigeon, Tūī and New Zealand Fantail.
Is Lore free? Yes. Lore is free, has no ads and is made as a hobby. You do not need an account to start.
Where do the photos and data come from? Photos come from iNaturalist and Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licences, and rarity and names come from eBird. See the photo credits.
Lore is free and made as a hobby. Photos: iNaturalist observers and Wikimedia Commons (CC licences). Names and rarity data: eBird. Photo credits · All regions · Follow Lore on Instagram.