Bird identification tools

Use these guides to help you identify birds commonly seen around Aotearoa’s gardens, schools, and parks. You can recognise birds by their colour, shape, size, sound, and flight pattern.

Ready to count?

Garden Bird Survey Tally sheet

Small birds < 15cm

Medium birds 15-30cm

Large birds > 30cm

Bird sounds

Small birds <15cm

Chaffinch (Pahirini) female
Brownish-grey with white shoulder patches.

Chaffinch (Pahirini) male
Blue-grey top of head, pinkish-brown breast, and white shoulder patches Image: Jonothan Harrod

Dunnock – hedge sparrow
Sexes are similar with brown upper body, grey breast, fine black beak, red eye and orange-brown legs

Fantail (Pīwakawaka)
Sexes are similar with a fan shaped tail, white eyebrow and light brown breast

Goldfinch
Sexes are similar with a red face, white neck band, and black wings with yellow bar. Image: Tom Marshall

Greenfinch female
Grey-green with a bright yellow patch on the wing and tail

Greenfinch male
Olive-green with a bright yellow patch on the wing and tail. Image: Jonothan Harrod

Grey warbler (Riroriro)
Sexes are similar with an olive-grey upper body, light grey breast, and a fine pointed beak. Image: Satyaki Hosmane.

Silvereye / waxeye (Tauhou)
Sexes are similar with a grey-green body and a white ring around the eye. Image: Bernard Spragg

Sparrow – house (Tiu) female
Pale brown upper body with a thick pale beak. Image: Andrew Walmsley

Sparrow – house (Tiu) male
Dark brown upper body with a grey breast and a black bib. Image: Manuel Becerril González

Swallow – welcome (Warou)
Sexes are similar with dark blue wings and upper body, a pale breast and a long dark tail. Image: Tom Marshall.

Yellowhammer female
Pale yellow head and under body

Yellowhammer male
Bright yellow head and under body

Medium birds 15-30cm

Bellbird (Korimako)
Sexes are relatively similar with olive-brown bodies, a short curved black beak and a forked tail; males have darker heads and females have a white stripe below the eye. Image: Andrew Walmsley

Blackbird (Manu pango) female
Dark brown body and light brown beak

Blackbird (Manu pango) male
Black body with an orange beak and ring around the eye. Image: Andrew Walmsley

Myna (Maina)
Sexes are similar with a brown body, black head, yellow beak and eye patch, and white-tipped tail feathers. Image: Ashley Bradford

Rosella - eastern — Rosella – eastern
Sexes are similar with bright red heads, white cheek patches and blue-green wings

Song thrush
Sexes are similar with a dark-brown head and back, speckled cream breast, and a light brown beak. Image: Tom Marshall

Starling (Tāringi)
Sexes are similar with a short tail, spotted white body and dark beak in winter (non-breeding season). Image: Andrew Walmsley

Tūī / Kōkō
Sexes are similar with a white tuft on the throat, curved black beak, and blue-green iridescence on head and wings

Large birds >30cm

Gull – black-backed (Karoro) — Gull – black-backed
Sexes are similar; adults have black wings, a white head and a yellow beak while juveniles are brown. Image: Paddy Kemner

Gull – red-billed (Tarāpunga) — Gull – red-billed
Gull – red-billed Sexes are similar with grey wings, white head and a red beak. Image: Sid Mosdell

Kererū
Sexes are similar with a white under body, glossy purple-green back and head, and red bill and feet

Magpie
Sexes are relatively similar with a black, white and grey body, red eyes, and a grey beak. Image: Andrew Walmsley

Pigeon – rock
Sexes are similar and come in a wide array of colours; most commonly have pale grey wings with black wingbars, greenish-purple neck and a grey head. Image: Andrew Walmsley

Bird sounds

Can’t quite work out what is hiding in the trees in your garden? Have a listen to these bird call tracks and see if you can identify your birds this way.

Bellbird / Korimako

Credit: DOC

Blackbird (Manu pango)

Credit: Les McPherson

Chaffinch / Pahirini

Credit: Les McPherson

Dunnock

Credit: Les McPherson

Eastern rosella

Credit: Greg McLachlan

Fantail / Pīwakawaka (North Island)

Credit: DOC

Fantail / Pīwakawaka (South Island)

Credit: DOC

Goldfinch

Credit: Les McPherson

Greenfinch

Credit: Les McPherson

Grey warbler / Riroriro

Credit: DOC

Kererū

Credit: DOC

Magpie (Australasian)

Credit: DigifishMusic

Myna (Maina)

Credit: Les McPherson

Pigeon (Rock pigeon)

Credit: Les McPherson

Silvereye (Tauhou)

Credit: Les McPherson

Song thrush

Credit: Les McPherson

Sparrow

Credit: Les McPherson

Starling

Credit: Les McPherson

Swallow

Credit: Les McPherson

Tūī / Kōkō

Credit: DOC

Yellowhammer

Credit: Les McPherson

Credits:

DOC: Department of Conservation Bird Songs and Calls. These bird songs are Crown Copyright. They may be reused, even commercially, as long as you credit the Department of Conservation.
Les McPherson: Les McPherson archivebirdsnz.com
Greg McLachlan: Greg McLachlan, XC354601. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/354601
DigifishMusic: CC-BY-4.0

Ready to count?

Small birds <15cm

Medium birds 15-30cm

Large birds >30cm

Bird sounds

Bellbird / Korimako

Blackbird (Manu pango)

Chaffinch / Pahirini

Dunnock

Eastern rosella

Fantail / Pīwakawaka (North Island)

Fantail / Pīwakawaka (South Island)

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

Grey warbler / Riroriro

Kererū

Magpie (Australasian)

Myna (Maina)

Pigeon (Rock pigeon)

Silvereye (Tauhou)

Song thrush

Sparrow

Starling

Swallow

Tūī / Kōkō

Yellowhammer

Credits:

Want help with identifying your birds or can’t find your bird here?

Ask our knowledgeable NZ Garden Bird Survey group.
Our community of bird enthusiasts will help you!

Participate

Resources

About

Stay connected

Led by

Ready to count?

Small birds <15cm

Medium birds 15-30cm

Large birds >30cm

Bird sounds

Bellbird / Korimako

Blackbird (Manu pango)

Chaffinch / Pahirini

Dunnock

Eastern rosella

Fantail / Pīwakawaka (North Island)

Fantail / Pīwakawaka (South Island)

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

Grey warbler / Riroriro

Kererū

Magpie (Australasian)

Myna (Maina)

Pigeon (Rock pigeon)

Silvereye (Tauhou)

Song thrush

Sparrow

Starling

Swallow

Tūī / Kōkō

Yellowhammer

Credits:

Want help with identifying your birds or can’t find your bird here?

Ask our knowledgeable NZ Garden Bird Survey group. Our community of bird enthusiasts will help you!

Participate

Resources

About

Stay connected

Led by

Ask our knowledgeable NZ Garden Bird Survey group.
Our community of bird enthusiasts will help you!