MALLARD DUCK

Anus platyrynchos

FAMILY: Anatidae

Introduced from Britain and USA since 1867.   Protected but may be hunted in open season.  Found throughout NZ on rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps and inter-tidal flats.   Feeds on plants and small insects on land or in shallow water, where it feeds by dabbling or 'up-ending'.   Breeding August to December.   The nest is of grass and other vegetation close to water  or margins of wetlands, in any available cover such as niggerheads or raupo.   Eggs, 5-20, are cream with light green tinge.   Female only incubates and cares for the young.  

BLACK SWAN

BLACK SWAN

 Cygnus atratus

FAMILY: Anatidae

Introduced from Australia prior to 1864 and during 1860s in both islands.   Protected but may be hunted in open season.   Immature is grey with a dark bill.   Found throughout NZ on  medium to large lakes and lagoons, mainly coastal.   Large breeding populations especially at Lake Ellesmere and the Waikato Lakes.   Feeds on water plants in shallow water.  Breeding mainly August to November.   The nest is a large mound of grass and rushes lined with down and close to water.   Usually single, surrounded by tall vegetetation.   By some large lakes they will breed colonially.   Eggs, 4-7, are greenish-white.

NEW ZEALAND SCAUP & GREY TEAL

GREY DUCK

Anus superciliosa

FAMILY: Anatidae

Native, found also in Australia.   Protected but may be hunted in open season.  Habitat and feeding same as Mallard.  Breeding is from September to December, with nest made of dry grass and other vegetation, lined with down and generally away from water, under cover on the ground or in hollow trees or tree forks.   The eggs, 5-11, are greenish-cream.  Female only incubates and cares for the young.  Extensive inter-breeding has produced hybrids with characteristics of both species.

BITTERN

BITTERN/Matuku

Botaurus stellaris

FAMILY: Ardeidae

Native, also found in Australia and New Caledonia.   Fully protected.   Very secretive with loud booming voice at night.   Found throughout NZ but rarely seen in the open.   Habitat is swamps, lakes, salt marshes and boggy areas  with cover.   Feeds on insects, fish, eels, frogs and small mammals.   Breeding is from September to January.   The nest is a large, firm platform of rushes, reeds and sticks, usually surrounded by water and well hidden in reed beds and niggerheads.  Eggs, 4-5, are brownish cream.

NEW ZEALAND SCAUP/Papango

Aythya novaeseelandiae

FAMILY: Anatidae

Endemic and fully protected.   Dives deep for food.   Localised throughout both islands on freshwater lakes and ponds.   Breeds from October to March.  The nest of grass is lined with down and close to water, in dense cover or under banks.   Often in close groups.  

The eggs, 5-8, are creamy-white.

GREY TEAL/Tete

Anus gibberifrons

FAMILY: Anatidae

Native, also found in Australia.   Fully protected.   Much smaller than the Grey Duck but often mistaken for them and consequently shot in open season.   Found throughout both islands on lakes, ponds and lagoons.   Grey Teal feed by dabbling, on water insects, snails and plants.

Breeding is from September to January and the nest of grass is usually lined with down, under vegetation near water, or in trees.   The eggs, 5-9, are dark-cream.

SOUTHERN CRESTED GREBE

 NEW ZEALAND DABCHICK

NEW ZEALAND DABCHICK/Weweia

Podiceps  rufupectus   

 FAMILY:  Podicipedidae

Endemic and fully protected.   Half the size of the Grey Duck, this little grebe has no tail and holds the rump high when swimming.

Found in North Island lakes ponds and coastal lagoons.   Rare in the South Island.   Feeds in shallow water with a rapid head-first dive, on insects and snails.

Breeds from August to May.   The nest is a flimsy but bulky structure, floating among, and attached to water-edge vegetation.   The eggs, 2-3, are chalky-white, quickly staining to yellow-brown.   They are covered with weed when unattended

Small chicks with stripped plumage are carried on the swimming parents back.

SOUTHERN CRESTED GREBE/Puteketeke

Podiceps cristaus  

 FAMILY: Podicipedidae

Native, also in Europe, Asia, Africa south of the Sahara, SW and E. Australia.   Four sub-species.   Fully protected.   Similar size to Grey Duck.   Normally seen on water with low profile, head high.

Small chicks are carried on the backs of swimming parents.   Found only in the South Island, but not common.   Found on lakes in Fiordland and South Westland, also the high country lakes of Canterbury.   The feed mainly on small fish and crustacea.

Breeding is from November to December and the nest is a large and bulky floating structure of waterweed, twigs and rushes, anchored close to cover at the water's edge.   The eggs, 3-5, are chalky-white, quickly staining to yellowish-brown, and pointed at both ends.   They are covered with weed when unattended.