Avibase is an extensive database information system about all birds of the world, containing over &1 million records about 10,000 species and 22,000 subspecies of birds, including distribution information for 20,000 regions, taxonomy, synonyms in several languages and more. Introduction From albatrosses to yellowheads, learn more about some of New Zealand's native birds. Adult has head, underparts and tail white, sometimes pinkish on breast; back and wings pearlygey, except wingtips black with small white window. Similar species: in non-breeding plumage, black-billed gulls have a bi-coloured bill and red legs, and may be confused with red-billed gulls. (noun) seagull, southern black-backed gull, Larus dominicanus - a common large gull with a heavy bill. Birds (Shore and Seabirds) Listed by binomial names and photos) . Red-billed gulls breed between October and December in large densely packed colonies on sand spits, boulder banks, shellbanks, gravel beaches, rocky headlands and rocky islets. A person habitually living by the sea was called a ‘karoro that drinks the tide’. Chatham Island tāiko. black-billed gull, Larus bulleri, found in New Zealand Birds' bird gallery section, includes general information about the bird, taxonomy, description, where to find them and other useful and interesting information. Black-billed Gull bird photo call and song/ Chroicocephalus bulleri (Larus bulleri) Found only in New Zealand and mostly in the South Island, the endangered black-billed gull (Maori name: tarapuka) usually lives on braided rivers and streams with gravel beds. It was thought to be a bad omen to see karoro inland. The nest, built mostly by the male with only a small input from the female, is composed of dry grass, seaweed, twigs and feathers. Terns look similar to gulls, except that they are more lightly built, and most have forked tails. The Southern Black backed gull is larger than the other two, has a black back, and a yellow bill with a red tip on the end. Gulls evoke sun, sea and surf for both Māori and Europeans. Legs and feet are olive. Terns. Juvenile black-billed gulls are most confusing, as they have a dark outer leading edge to the wing (this is white in older age classes). Chatham Island oystercatcher/tōrea. Black-billed gulls are found only in New Zealand. Some of the common names are Southern Black Backed gull, Dominican Gull, Kelp Gull (in Australia), or simply seagull. Six species of true terns breed in New Zealand, and several others are visitors. The Red billed gull, black billed gull, and the southern black backed gull. Related Bird Identification online course. Doesn't it imply that both gulls are just seagulls and so loses the important difference between them which make the former the most endangered gull in the world? Brown teal/pāteke. Black-fronted tern/tarapirohe. The Bird Identification online course will help you identify the 10 New Zealand forest birds most commonly recorded during five minute bird counts. I respect the views of the last post completely, but why call Black-billed Gull Tarapunga, when that's the name for Red-billed Gull? The Natural Heritage Trail brochure will guide you around the shores of Lake Rotorua. Luckily, the name of the birds make it easy to identify the different species. Breeding in Australasia: New Zealand; can be seen in 1 country. Adults are white and grey with a black bill. The number of birds has been in rapid decline. Birds (Shore and Seabirds) Listed by binomial names and photos) If you spot an unusual bird report it to the 'Birds New Zealand', the popular name for The Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc! When the gull perches, its long, slender wings extend well past its square-tipped tail. Stilts and a black-billed gull mob a blackbacked gull carrying off a dead bird. The red-billed also has red legs, while the black-billed gull has black legs and a longer, thinner black bill. Breeding in Australasia: New Zealand; can be seen in 1 country. Popular ... Black billed gull/tarāpuka. The bird gallery links to in-depth descriptions of most New Zealand birds. The Maori name for this bird is karoro or ngoiro for the juveniles. Birds A - Z. In flight, the … Adults are handsome with broad black wings, gleaming white head, and big yellow bill. Black stilt/kakī . Like Black-billed Gull but shorter deeper bill and boldly patterned wingtips. In winter black-billed gulls are more coastal, so are often seen in estuaries, coastlines, harbours, and coastal parks. See plants and birds that have adapted to the sulphurous environment. The bird gallery links to in-depth descriptions of most New Zealand birds. This native gull of New Zealand goes by many names. At Península Valdés, in Argentina, the gulls are increasingly feeding on skin and blubber that they gouge from the backs of southern right whales. Highlights. The Ring-billed is a medium-sized gull with a fairly short, slim bill. The number of birds has been in rapid decline.