Information Books/Resources > Natural World > Birds

New Zealand's best-known bird and national icon is the subject of this new and highly accessible title from two experts in their field. With stunning photographs from wildlife photographer Rod Morris and fascinating detail from native bird specialist Dr Isabel Castro, all key aspects of kiwi are described, making this the perfect introduction for anyone with an interest in these fascinating birds.

Photographs and text describe some New Zealand birds commonly seen in gardens

This book provides a practical guide to chicken husbandry, from hatching your first chicks to cooking with produce that you know has come from happy, free-range birds.

Desribed as 'grey ghosts' because they are seldom seen in New Zealand forests, Kokako are known for their incredible song. This book delves into their world - one preyed upon by predators in a shrinking habitat. it tells the remarkable story of hoe the Kokako, New Zealand's last remaining species of wattlebird, is being saved. Well known author Maria Gill sets the scene, locating where Kokako are found in pockets of North Island forest and one island deep in Fiordkland in the South Island. Thanks to the Kokako Recovery Group, matin... read more

With simple text accompanied by delightful photographs, John Dekker tells the story of a song thrush building a nest, laying four blue eggs, and hatching and rearing the baby birds.

This little book features photographs and descriptions of 11 sea and shore birds seen in New Zealand.

In Sea and Shore Birds, David Medway introduces the reader to birds commonly seen by those who visit our coastal areas such as the Pied Shag, the Variable Oystercatcher and the New Zealand Kingfisher. He provides information about the identifying features of the birds, their distribution and habitat throughout New Zealand, their behaviours and what foo they eat and their breeding cycles. David Medway is the President of the NZ Ornithological Society.

The lives, diversity, and sheer mass of penguins are fascinating, and the remote, cold and beautiful areas in which they live are places to be treasured on Earth. Photographers Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott travel to these places, from Antarctica to the South Georgia Islands, and study these fascinating water birds, so awkward on land, and so at home in the sea. Their nesting habits, parenting customs, growth, development, diets, and interaction, are all covered in detail accompanied by stunning photographs in this fascinating hardcover book.

Natasha Fijn writes about how pukeko came to New Zealand, their biology, where they live and how they have adapted to their changing environments, how they breed and rear their babies, their behaviours, and how we can help to preserve their populations. Full colour photographs throughout.

New Zealand's unique birdlife, from the kiwi, kea, kaka and kokako of bush and hill to the many petrels, penguins and albatrosses of the coastal regions, is of immense interest to ornithologists worldwide, and this handy pocket-size checklist will make a valuable addition to any NZ birder's pack. Featuring the full 350-odd species that can be seen on the mainland and offshore islands, with English common name, Maori name and scientific name, the checklist enables the birder to note down sightings of each bird in up to five separate... read more

New Zealand is known for its birds, and the melodic quality of their song. Here, in one book and CD package is a selection of 60 of the most popular, important or interesting birds. In the book, each bird entry includes information about habitat, distribution, appearance and behaviour of the bird, along with a description of its calls. Each entry is illustrated with photographs from the renowned collection of Geoff Moon, making identification easy. The CD, contained in a plastic envelope on the book's inside back cover, contains 60... read more

One little egg can go on to become one incredible creature! From egg to chick to chicken, find out about the life cycle of an egg in this fascinating guide. White Wolves Non-fiction is a guided reading scheme which takes a high-interest approach to core geography, history and science topics. It has been created to appeal to children and reflect the range of texts in the real world, from guidebooks to cookbooks. Covering a wide range of topics at different reading levels, these books are ideal for classroom and topic libraries, ... read more

This little book features photographs and descriptions of 10 birds that live on Tiritiri.

Dabbling and diving, preening and squabbling, nesting and roosting... ducks are just AMAZING! Part of the "Nature Storybooks" series.

A comprehensive guide to birds that includes species accounts which have been updated according to the 4th edition of the Ornithological Society's official "Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand". It features photographs of the most commonly seen birds along with detailed information on distribution, habitat, behaviour and breeding.

Penguins certainly are a different bird! They spend seventy-five percent of their lives in water and they can′t even fly! Penguins are classified as birds because they have feathers. So explore a penguin′s world by finding out how they can swim so fast, what they eat, and how people need to help protect their habitats. Includes: Smithsonian mission statement, Glossary, Index, Website and additional reading sources, Series thumbnails on back panel

A simple step-by-step guide to the identification of New Zealand's native and introduced birds.A completely different and unique approach to bird identification. Prizes: Shortlisted for New Zealand Post Children's Book Award: Non-Fiction Award 2002 and Montana New Zealand Book Awards: Environment Category 2002. First published 2001.

The author was driven to write this book when her grandson aged 6 wanted to know about the birds he saw in the garden or on the beach. The only books available were for adults or older children, with far too much scientific detail. There were some beautiful books about black robins or yellow-eyed penguins, but what was wanted was a child-orientated book introducing the birds most likely to be seen around home and in the neighbourhood. Know that Bird is the result. Each of the twenty-five birds is described briefly, with just enoug... read more

Books about NZ birds are usually either field guides (both big and small) or lavish illustrated books which aren't very informative. This fills a gap in the market for a good solid, substantial reference book for homes, school and libraries that is both informative and very attractive. This book describes 100 birds, which covers all the NZ birds that you are most likely to see, including some rare and endangered birds. For each bird there is one page of accessibly written and highly informative text with one large photograph facing... read more

Did you know that the royal albatross is the largest seabird in the world? That it can fly for thousands of kilometres with barely a flap of its wings? And that after it takes off on its very first flight, it won't set foot on land for 3-5 years? Find out more about the remarkable world of the royal albatross with easy-to-follow text and magnificent full-colour photographs.