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List of Extinct Birds

Extinct Birds | Huia | Moa | Resources

Adzebill - extinct

The list is broken down into three sections:
  1. Species that became extinct before people were in New Zealand.
  2. Species that became extinct after Polynesians arrived in New Zealand - before Europeans.
  3. Recent extinctions - since Europeans have been in New Zealand.
The list has the common (English) name of the bird and then the Latin (scientific) name.

Most of the species that became extinct before people were in New Zealand

Extinct Albatross? Manu antiquus
Narrow-Flippered Penguin Palaeeudyptes antarcticus
Marples’ Penguin P. marplesi
New Zealand Giant Penguin Pachydyptes ponderosus
Wide-Flippered Penguin Platydyptes novaezealandiae
Amies’ Penguin P. amiesi
Lowe’s Penguin Archaeospheniscus lowei
Lopdell’s Penguin A. lopdelli
Duntroon Penguin Duntroonornis parvus
Oliver’s Penguin Korora oliveri
Harris’ Penguin Marplesornis novaezealandiae
Moisley’s Penguin Tereingaornis moisleyi
Ridgen’s Penguin Aptenodytes ridgeni
Tyree’s Penguin Pygoscelis tyreei
Miocene False-Toothed Pelican Pelagornis miocaenus
Stirton’s False-Toothed Pelican Pseudodontornis stirtoni


Species that became extinct after Polynesians arrived in New Zealand - before Europeans.

Little Bush Moa Anomalopteryx didiformis
Upland Moa Megalapteryx didinus
Heavy-Footed Moa Pachyornis elephantopus
Crested Moa P. australis
Mappin’s Moa P. mappini
Eastern Moa Emeus Crassus
Stout-Legged Moa Euryapteryx geranoides

Coastal Moa E. curtus
Slender Bush Moa Dinornis struthoides
Large Bush Moa D. novaezealandiae
Giant Moa D. giganteus

New Zealand Pelican Pelecanus novaezealandiae
New Zealand Swan Cygnus sumnerensis
South Island Goose Cnemiornis calcitrans
North Island Goose Cn. Gracilis

Chatham Island Duck Pachyanas chathamica
Finsch’s Duck Euryanas finschi
Scarlett’s Duck Malacorhynchus scarletti
De Lautour’s Duck Biziura delautouri
Blue-Billed Duck Oxyura australis

Eyles’ Harrier Circus eylesi
Chatham Island Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus australis
New Zealand Eagle Harpagornis moorei

Snipe-Rail Capellirallus karamu
Giant Chatham Island Rail Diaphorapteryx hawkinsi
Hodgen’s Rail Gallinula hodgeni

Yaldwyn’s Wren Pachyplichas yaldwyni
Grant-Mackie’s Wren P. jagmi

New Zealand Coot Fulica chathamensis
Adzebill Aptornis otidiformis
Giant Chatham Island Snipe Coenocorypha chathamica
New Zealand Owlet-Nightjar Aegotheles novaezealandiae
New Zealand Crow Palaeocorax moriorum
North Island Takahe Porphyrio mantelli mantelli

NZ 40c stamp - Adzebill

NZ $1 stamp - Piopio

Recent Extinctions

New Zealand Little Bittern Ixobrychus novaezelandiae
Auckland Island Merganser Mergus australis
Chatham Island Rail Rallus modestus
Laughing Owl Sceloglaux albifacies
Bush Wren Xenicus longpipes
Stephens Island Wren Traversia lyalli
Chatham Island Fernbird Bowdleria rufescens
Huia Heteralocha acutirostris
Piopio Turnagra capensis
New Zealand Quail Coturnix novaezelandiae novaezelandia
Dieffenbach’s Rail Rallus philippensis dieffenbachii
Stewart Island Snipe Coenocorypha aucklandica iredalei
Little Barrier Snipe Coenocorypha aucklandica barrierensis
Chatham Island Bellbird Anthornis melanura melanocephala
South Island Kokako Callaeas cinerea cinerea

 

This list has been compiled from numerous sources, but the main book where you can find this information is 'New Zealand’s Extinct Birds' By Brian Gill and Paul Martinson. Published by Random Century New Zealand Ltd, 1991. It's an excellent book - check it out if you want to know more about New Zealand's extinct birds.

 

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