Photo: Matthew Winter

Royal spoonbill/kotuku ngutupapa

September 2019

Read more from

September 2019

The royal spoonbill, kotuku ngutupapa, first flew over from Australia in 1861, making it a ‘native’ bird. For the next 90-odd years the birds remained vagrant visitors to New Zealand. But, in 1949, the first recorded breeding was observed right next to the white heron colony at Okarito in South Westland.

Conservation statusA native species classed as naturally uncommon. FeaturesThe royal spoonbill can be described as a large, fairly heavy, long-legged bird with white plumage. They are similar in profile to the white heron (kotuku) but for two distinguishing features: although smaller, the spoonbill is much bulkier and weighs up to 2kg. The second readily identifiable […]
September 2019

Read more from

September 2019

More From September 2019

Related Topics

Similar Articles

The kōkako is our forest diva ‘bird of paradise’

From peaks to beaks

An ethical guide to visiting the Muriwai gannet colony

Join Wilderness. You'll see more, do more and live more.

Already a subscriber?  to keep reading. Or…

34 years of inspiring New Zealanders to explore the outdoors. Don’t miss out — subscribe today.

Your subscriber-only benefits:

All this for as little as $6.75/month.

1

free articles left this month.

Already a subscriber? Login Now