The kōkako is our forest diva ‘bird of paradise’

March 2026

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March 2026

The distinctive blue wattled kōkako. Photo: Michael Szabo
Crowned Bird of the Year in 2016, this blue-wattled beauty stands proud on the $50 note. The enigmatic North Island kōkako is high on most people’s birds-to-see wish list. Once heard and seen, you won’t soon forget the experience. The North Island kōkako is a large blue-grey songbird (38cm, 225g) with long legs, a velvet […]
Michael Szabo

About the author

Michael Szabo

Michael Szabo is the author of Wild Wellington and Native Birds of Aotearoa, editor of Birds New Zealand magazine, and writes for Greenpeace Aotearoa. He has explored all 14 national parks, the Chatham Islands and the Subantarctic Islands. He has also written for New Scientist, NZ Geographic, Sunday Star Times and The Listener, and is a former editor of Forest & Bird magazine. He has a joint honours degree in communications and cultural studies from the University of Leeds. His favourite food is bagels.

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