Description: Large brown hawk. Food is a mix of live prey - small birds, rabbits and a lot of road killed carrion (possums, hares, hedgehogs). Wary birds and avoid humans.

Habitat: Usually seen soaring singly over farmland, open country or swamps. Commonly patrols roads and a lot of young birds killed by cars.

Size: 55 cm

Description: Large bird with deep blue underparts, bright red beak and frontal shield, black upper parts with white under tail displayed by tail flicking as it walks. Harsh screaming call. Flies clumsily with legs trailing but tends more often to run away if disturbed. Grazes pasture and may hold some vegetable matter by one foot and eat "parrot fashion". Also takes frogs, insects and even small ducklings.

Habitat: Frequently seen in family groups foraging within the vicinity of water.

Size: 50 cm

Description: Grey blue head and underparts, brown back and wings with distinctive white under tail with black bars displayed in -like fashion when bird disturbed or uneasy. Longish legs and eye are both red. Until local OSNZ members began surveying swamps with tape recorders, this species was thought to be rare. Although still not common, it is easily overlooked.

Habitat: This small secretive starling-sized inhabitant of raupo and sedge swamps is not often seen but can be attracted into the open by playing taped calls in or close to birds territory especially in the breeding season (Oct-Dec).

Description: Black cap, brown back and wings, white underparts with bright yellow facial wattles (like a plastic mask). Strident rattling unmistakable calls. Slow deliberate wing beats in flight. Are early nesters from May onwards on open ground. Defends nest aggressively against the , and humans.

Habitat: Conspicuous birds of open country and farmland.

Size: 40 cm

Description: Brightly coloured blue-green bird with light orange breast and sharp powerful beak. More often seen away from water and perhaps eats more insects, worms, lizards than fish. Known to kill small birds such as . Uses the beak to excavate a nest hole in rotten trees or banks. Harsh repeated "kek-kek-kek" call heard more often when breeding.

Habitat: Commonly seen sitting motionless on roadside powerlines, watching for prey. In winter many of our kingfishers migrate to the coast and may be seen feeding on fish and small crabs from rock pools.

Description: Fast-flying small forktailed blue black bird with orange red face and throat. Numbers have exploded since the 1960s when breeding was first recorded in the Wairarapa. A welcome migrant from Australia as its presence has in no way jeopardised existence of our other aerial feeding, predominantly insectivorous bird () which prefers forests and gardens. Their open mud nests are stuck onto rough vertical walls of culverts, bridges and buildings. They can have 3 clutches a year.

Habitat: Swallows chase and catch aerial insects over open country and water.

Size: 15 cm

Description: Prominent black and white crow-like bird. Aggressive and may physically attack humans and if either venture close to their nests. Unprotected since 1991 and commonly trapped or shot as a pest. Kill and eat small birds and take their eggs. Native species increase in numbers when magpies are eliminated. Best feature of this bird is its flute-like morning carolling.

Habitat: Motor in the country and you could easily believe these large black and white birds were our commonest bird. They are very obvious in family groups foraging on pasture.

Size: 40 cm