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Name || Kotuku (white heron) |
Scientific Name || Egretta alba modesta |
Conservation Status || Endangered |
Habitat || Lake edges, ponds and marshes throughout New Zealand and Australia. |
Unique Features ||
The Kotuku is recognised by its white feathers particularly the large, beautiful dorsal plumes, known as ospreys.
Social Behaviour ||
Adult birds congregate from all over the country around August and take part in elaborate courtship displays. After breeding the birds disperse widely throughout the country.
Diet ||
In marshlands the Kotuku will eat fish, frogs and water-living invertebrates, but it may also snap up small birds or mammals that it finds near the water.
Reproduction ||
Male and female pair in spring, and they take turns incubating the two-five pale blue eggs. Babies hatch after around 25 days, and fledge at about six weeks of age.
Life Cycle ||
Kotuku can reach a considerable age in captivity, but due to their threatened status, life in the wild is much shorter.
Relatives ||
Kotuku are also found in Australia, and there are closely related subspecies worldwide.
Interesting Facts :
- There are only around 15 breeding pairs left in New Zealand, and their only breeding ground is at Okorito in South Westland. The Kotuku was nearly wiped out in the 1870s as European settlers used the feathers for hats.
Breeding Programme ||
Wellington Zoo does not currently hold a breeding pair.
Environmental Conditions ||
The Kotuku has always been one of New Zealands rarest birds, although it is also found in India, China, Japan and Australia.
At Wellington Zoo ||
We have one male kotuku that came to us from Perth in 1988.
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:: Kotuku
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