New Zealand Pigeon
Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderColumbiformes
- FamilyColumbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
- GenusHemiphaga (New Zealand Pigeons)
- SpeciesHemiphaga novaeseelandiae (New Zealand Pigeon)
The kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae), also known as kūkupa (northern Māori dialects), New Zealand pigeon or wood pigeon, is a species of pigeon native to New Zealand. Johann Friedrich Gmelin described the bird in 1789 as a large, conspicuous pigeon up to 50 cm (20 in) in length and 550–850 g (19–30 oz) in weight, with a white breast and iridescent green–blue plumage. Two subspecies have been recognised; the second—the Norfolk pigeon of Norfolk Island—became extinct in the early 20th century. Kererū pairs are monogamous, breeding over successive seasons and remaining together when not breeding. They construct nests with twigs in trees, with a single egg clutch. Found in a variety of habitats across the country, the kererū feeds mainly on fruits, as well as leaves, buds and flowers. Wikipedia →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Pigeon sighting in Arthur's Pass National Park, based on 54 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Arthur's Pass National Park
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Tongariro National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 6 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a New Zealand Pigeon in Arthur's Pass National Park?
About 11% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Pigeon sighting in Arthur's Pass National Park, based on 54 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see New Zealand Pigeon in Arthur's Pass National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for New Zealand Pigeon in Arthur's Pass National Park in our monthly data.