KERERU !

This is one of my favourites, the kererū or New Zealand Pigeon.
This bird is only found here and no-where else in the world!
The Māori name is Kererū and they feed largely on fruits.
You know when a kereru flies past because it is the size of a large duck, with huge wings that make a ‘whump, whump’ sound overhead!



They are beautiful colours, a mixture of purple, gold, green, grey, white, orange and pink. They have red eyes and feet.
In spring they build flimsy, shallow, twiggy nests in pohutakawa trees, these then get hidden when they flower.
They make occasional soft coo sounds (hence the onomatopoeic name), and their flight pattern is very distinctive.
They ascend slowly before making impressively steep dives into fruit trees; all with this huge ‘whoosing’ sound.



At this time of year, spring for us, they sit on the kowphai trees and eat the nectar and fruits.
One of my favourite birds - see the blog on the Takahe for the other!