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A stoat in the Ardennes in Belgium, within its natural range. The stoat (Mustela erminea) was introduced into New Zealand to control introduced rabbits and hares, but is now a major threat to the native bird population. The natural range of the stoat is limited to parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (rev. & updated 4th ed.). New Zealand: Penguin. ISBN 978-0143570929. Checklist Committee Ornithological Society of New Zealand (2010). "Available online as a PDF" (PDF). Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica (4th ed.). New Zealand: Te ...
In breeding adults a striking black cap covers the head from forehead to nape, leaving a small white strip above the black bill. This is the most abundant tern in New Zealand. It can be observed feeding on shoaling fish along the entire coastline and many of the smaller outlying islands.
In New Zealand, the stoat feeds principally on birds, including the rare kiwi, kaka, mohua, yellow-crowned parakeet, and New Zealand dotterel. [44] Cases are known of stoats preying on young muskrats. The stoat typically eats about 50 g (1.8 oz) of food a day, which is equivalent to 25% of the animal's live weight. [45]
The Wildlife Act 1953 made hunting of white herons illegal, and adult birds have no natural predators in New Zealand, though chicks are preyed on by stoats and Australasian harriers. [5] There are over 150 traps in the reserve, run by White Heron Sanctuary Tours, to protect the colony from stoats, rats and possums. [16]
The black-fronted tern (Chlidonias albostriatus), also known as sea martin, ploughboy, inland tern, riverbed tern or tarapiroe, [2] [page needed] is a small tern generally found in or near bodies of fresh water in New Zealand, where it forages for freshwater fish, arthropods and worms. It has a predominantly grey plumage.
The great spotted kiwi population started declining when European settlers first arrived in New Zealand. [1] Before settlers arrived, about 12 million great spotted kiwis lived in New Zealand. [18] This bird is often preyed upon by invasive pigs, dogs, ferrets and stoats, leading to a 5% chick survival rate. [24]
[5] [7] Previously widespread, kōkako populations throughout New Zealand have been decimated by the predations of mammalian invasive species such as possums, stoats, cats and rats, and their range has contracted significantly. [5] [6] [8] In the past this bird was called the New Zealand crow.