Yes there is. Unfortunately, the official New Zealand checklist put out by the Ornithological Society of New Zealand (OSNZ) was revised last in 1990. It is currently under revision, but has been for a number of years now, and it is uncertain when this will be available. Therefore, we have put together what we call the "The 'Official' New Zealand Birders checklist". This list has been widely received by both New Zealand and overseas birders, and can be downloaded by clicking on the links below.

As New Zealanders have in many cases come up with novel names for species found here as well as in other parts of the World, we have referred to each species by the Internationally used common name, and in brackets identify the New Zealand common name.

Colour coded version

Non-colour version

Well this is an easy question to answer! There is only one Field guide that adequately covers all of the regular and vagrant birds that have been recorded in New Zealand. "The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand" by Barrie Heather and Hugh Robertson (illustrated by Derek Onley) is the book to have. It does, however, come in two forms, as the Field Guide, or as "The Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand" (by the same authors). The former has full colour plates depicting each species, with a short description, key identification features, habitat and breeding period facing each plate, at the front of the book, and a more lengthy textual section on each species at the back of the book. The Hand Guide contains just the plates and brief description, and is ideal for those planning on travelling light.

This is the only Field guide endorsed by the Ornithological Society of New Zealand, and cover shots can be viewed on their website - http://osnz.org.nz/publ.htm

For those travelling to New Zealand to undertake pelagic excursions, or with more of a seabird focus to their travels, the best companion is undoubtedly Hadoram Shirihai's "The Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife". This book is absolutely fantastic and a must for those with an interest in the Southern Ocean and marine wildlife. It contains material on many of the seabirds likely to be encountered in New Zealand (although it doesn't cover the sub-tropical species that we get), as well as the marine mammals.

There are several other books which may be encountered by birders planning a trip a trip to New Zealand, but the two mentioned above are the only ones we would suggest as necessary.

Well this is a question posed by many visiting New Zealand, but is not all that easily answered. It does depend largely on where your interests lie - waders, seabirds, New Zealand endemics, or all of the above. Perhaps the best way of answering this question is to email us with your basic interests and requirements, and we can put a plan and rough itinerary/guide together for you - see our Pre-trip planning and site advice information.

However, set out below are some of what we reckon are New Zealand's best birding sites for the visiting birder, starting in the north and heading south -

• Northland - north of Auckland for North Island brown kiwi, brown teal, and places like Paihia (Bay of Islands) offer plenty of opportunities to board tourist boats from which seabirds can be viewed.
• Tiritiri Matangi Island - an absolute must for the visiting birder an easily accessbile from Auckland. The easiest island to access with such fantastic endemics as saddleback, stitchbird, kokako, takahe, as well as many other endemics that can be found on the mainland - a real gem! Overnighting in a 'bunkhouse' is possible, giving the opportunity to try and see little spotted kiwi. Visit the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi website.
• Miranda Shorebird centre - in the Firth of Thames about an hour from Auckland, this is a great spot for waders. Overnight accomodation is also available - visit their website.
• Pureora/Whirinaki - both of these places are excellent examples of native forest, providing ideal habitat for many of the native and endemic species still found on the mainland, including kaka.
• Central Plateau - the Turangi area is one of the best places for seeing species such as blue duck, a chance of New Zealand falcon, and also for at least hearing North Island brown kiwi.
• Tolaga Bay - although 'off the normal beaten track' if the opportunity to visit this place comes along, grab it. A boat skippered by Bert Lee is available for hire and is an excellent pelagic 'hot spot' at any time of the year. Check out Bert's website, and contact us for more info.
• Manawatu Estuary - probably the best place in New Zealand to see waders up close! An excellent range of common waders, along with vagrants, and possibly one of the easiest places to see wrybill up close!
• Cook Strait - the Interisland ferry across the Cook Strait provides an excellent opportunity for viewing seabirds. Make sure you take one of the 'slow' ferries (which take roughly 3 hours between Wellington and Picton) during daylight hours and try and be outside during at least the 'open ocean' part of the trip.
• Farewell Spit - an excellent site with some of New Zealands largest migratory wader flocks, and an Australasian gannet colony. Best visited with Kahurangi Nature Experiences.
• Kaikoura - the Oceanwings Pelagic trip out of Kaikoura has to be one of the 'must do's' when in New Zealand. The ease and proximity with which albatrosses and many other species of seabirds (and several marine mammals) can be viewed is unrivalled anywhere in the World! Check out their website for more information.
• Haast/Glaciers - the Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers on the West Coast of the South Island, are both amazing scenicly, and are also generally good for birds, with kea present in all three areas. The Haast Pass area is good for forest species such as kaka, yellow-crowned parakeet, and yellowhead.
• Catlins - scenicly amazing and good for forest species, including yellowhead.
• Milford area - some of the most amazing scenery in the World and great site for forest birds.
• Stewart Island - take the ferry for a chance to see seabirds. An excellent glimpse of what New Zealand forest used to be like, with Stewart Island brown kiwi being relatively easy to see.

Many visitors also ask about opportunities to visit New Zealand's subantarctic islands. The only realistic way of visiting any of these is with someone like Heritage Expeditions. However, the Chatham Island's are serviced by commercial flights and are a definite possibility, requiring at least 3 or more days.

For more information on pelagic birding in New Zealand, check out the information on OceanWanderers which we put together with Angus Wilson.

To work out where some of these places are - check out our map page - maps kindly supplied by Backpack New Zealand

You'll see that several of the sites listed above provide the ability to see a species of kiwi. However, even though kiwi can be found at these places, it is in no way guaranteed that you will see, or even hear these nocturnal birds (they are sometimes active during the day on Stewart Island). The introduction of mammals, such as stoats and ferrets, has seen the gradual decline of brown kiwi and the complete loss of little spotted kiwi on the New Zealand mainland. Great spotted kiwi appear to be holding on in some places. Intensive management of kiwi populations on the mainland by 'Operation Nest Egg' is being successful in reintroducing kiwi to the mainland at certain places around the country.

The Northland area (around Paihia, Bay of Islands) provides possibly the easiest place to see the North Island brown kiwi.

Little spotted kiwi were found only on offshore islands, but were recently reintroduced to the mainland at Karori Sanctuary in Wellington. Tiritiri Matangi and Karori are the easiest and best places for a chance at this species.

Great spotted kiwi inhabit the northern and central parts of the South Island, with places in Abel Tasman National Park and some parts of the Southern Alps, providing the best chance at this species.

The Stewart Island brown kiwi is relatively easily seen on Stewart Island.