Which New Zealand Bird Are you?

The kererū loves to eat. These large and clumsy birds are often heard crashing through the forest, the noisy beat of its wings making a loud “womf-womf-womf” noise. Kererū are the only birds with a big enough bill to swallow and disperse large fruit from trees in our forests.

As with many of our native birds, they are threatened by introduced mammalian predators. Rats, stoats, cats and possums will eat their eggs and young.

Vote for your favourite native bird during Forest & Bird’s #BirdOfTheYear competition, which runs from October 5 - 25! www.forestandbird.org.nz

These cheeky mountain parrots have quite the reputation for small-time thievery, dismantling cars and mob-tactics. Kea are one of the most intelligent birds in the world and their inquisitive nature often gets them into trouble. They often congregate around exciting objects to investigate, yelling out to one another and hopping around to investigate.

As with many of our native birds, they are threatened by introduced mammalian predators. Because they nest on the ground, up to 60% of nests can be attacked by predators, like rats, stoats and possums.

Vote for your favourite native bird during Forest & Bird’s #BirdOfTheYear competition, which runs from October 5 - 25! www.forestandbird.org.nz

The kākā is a raucous attention seeker often heard before it is seen. They love to hang out with friends, and are often seen in boisterous flocks - socialising with amusing antics and raucous screeching. They live in the forest and eat a varied diet that includes berries, seeds, nectar, and tree sap.

As with many of our native birds, they are threatened by introduced mammalian predators. Nesting in tree holes means they stand little chance when attacked by introduced mammalian predators, like rats, stoats and possums.

Vote for your favourite native bird during Forest & Bird’s #BirdOfTheYear competition, which runs from October 5 - 25! www.forestandbird.org.nz

These handsome ocean wanderers are the world’s largest seabirds. Spending 85% of their lives at sea, they have incredible endurance and only return to land for breeding. Fourteen varieties breed in New Zealand, making it the "Albatross Capital of the World".

They are threatened by changes in climate and long-line fishing. Adult birds are attracted to baited hooks, get caught, and are drowned.

Vote for your favourite native bird during Forest & Bird’s #BirdOfTheYear competition, which runs from October 5 - 25! www.forestandbird.org.nz

The ruru’s wings are specially feathered, so they are silent in flight and able to creep up on their prey. Their acute hearing helps them hunt large invertebrates, small birds, rats and mice. Their haunting call is often heard throughout the night, and Māori thought of them as watchful guardians of the forest.

As with many of our native birds, they are threatened by introduced mammalian predators. Because they nest on the ground, up to 60^ of nests can be attacked by predators, like rats, stoats and possums.

Vote for your favourite native bird during Forest & Bird’s #BirdOfTheYear competition, which runs from October 5 - 25! www.forestandbird.org.nz

Famous for fronting the $20 note, karearea can clock 230km/hr. These aerial acrobats watch from a vantage point, before striking quickly to catch prey with their sharp talons - killing it with a quick bite to the neck. They eat a range of animals including birds, insects, mammals and lizards - and have been known to catch prey larger than themselves. Nesting adults are notoriously territorial and can be very aggressive - putting those sharp talons to good use to defend their young.

Although not much is known about threats to the New Zealand falcon, they are a threatened species. Cats and hedgehogs are known to prey on ground-nesting falcons, while stoats prey on eggs and nestlings.

Vote for your favourite native bird during Forest & Bird’s #BirdOfTheYear competition, which runs from October 5 - 25! www.forestandbird.org.nz

You love the sound of your own voice - and that's fine, because it's beautiful. Tūī are often heard singing throughout New Zealand's forests with a cacophony of whistles and gurgles. They feed mainly on nectar from flowers of native plants and are known to be boisterous when protecting their patch, especially around breeding time.

As with many of New Zealand's birds, the tūī has suffered from the introduction of predators such as possums, feral cats, rats, stoats, and ferrets.

Vote for your favourite native bird during Forest & Bird’s #BirdOfTheYear competition, which runs from October 5 - 25! www.forestandbird.org.nz

You're a hard worker... Every morning, you march towards the sea - sometimes negotiating traffic and avoiding dogs - but return at dusk after a hard day's fishing to hide away for a good night's sleep.

The little penguin is the smallest species of penguin and found around all coasts of New Zealand’s mainland and many of the surrounding islands.

As with many New Zealand birds, they're susceptible to predation by introduced predators including cats, dogs and ferrets.

Vote for your favourite native bird during Forest & Bird’s #BirdOfTheYear competition, which runs from October 5 - 25! www.forestandbird.org.nz