APPENDIX 2 Failed introductions
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Failed Introductions of Foreign Birds to New Zealand
This appendix lists introduced foreign birds that failed to become established in New Zealand, under three categories:
1. Deliberately or accidentally released but the presence of the species may (or may also) have been natural.
2. Release documented, but with no record of reproduction in the wild.
3. Deliberate introduction documented, and published records indicate the species bred (or probably bred), but it is no longer extant.
Section 1
Species that are not established, that are assumed to have been deliberately or accidentally released in New Zealand, but for which there is some possibility that their presence may (or may also) have been natural.
CUCULIDAE
Genus Eudynamys Vigors & Horsfield
Eudynamys Vigors & Horsfield, 1826: Trans. Linn. Soc. London 15(1): 303 – Type species (by subsequent designation) Cuculus orientalis Linnaeus = Eudynamys orientalis (Linnaeus).
Eudynamys species uncertain
A single specimen of a koel Eudynamys sp. was found at Lees Valley, Canterbury, Mar. 1997 (Medway 2001a). Specimen originally believed to be of Australian origin and, therefore, self-introduced. However, it shows measurements and plumage more typical of Asian koel Eudynamys scolopacea (Linnaeus, 1758) (R.B. Payne pers. comm. to P. Scofield, 2005). Due to its age and sex (1st winter male moulting into 1st summer plumage) it is not possible at present to determine which population it originated from. Most Eu. scolopacea populations are sedentary, and so the New Zealand bird may have arrived on a ship at nearby Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō. Taxonomy unsettled, split by Mason (1997: 248) into Pacific koel Eu. orientalis (Linnaeus, 1766) and Asian koel Eu. scolopacea.
SPHENISCIDAE
Spheniscus magellanicus (J.R. Forster)
Magellanic Penguin
Aptenodytes magellanicus J.R. Forster, 1781: Comment. Phys. Soc. Reg. Sci. Gottingensis 3: 134, 143, pl. 5 – Straits of Magellan, South America.
Aptenodytes magellanica [sic] J.R. Forster, 1844: in M.H.C. Lichtenstein, Descrip. Animalium: 351 – Tierra del Fuego, Falkland Islands, Staten Island, and Straits of Magellan, South America. Junior primary homonym and junior synonym of Aptenodytes magellanicus J.R. Forster, 1781.
Spheniscus magellanicus (J.R. Forster); Checklist Committee 1980, Notornis (Suppl.) 27: 6.
Breeds on islands and coasts of southern South America, and on Falkland and Juan Fernandez Islands (Boswall & MacIver 1975; Marchant & Higgins 1990). Migrates generally northward in the non-breeding season, sometimes as far as Perú and southern Brazil (Marchant & Higgins 1990). Two New Zealand records: Mar. 1972, beach at Waimarama, Hawke’s Bay (C. Robertson et al. 1972); and Mar. 1990, Otago Harbour (Darby 1991; Guest 1991). Magellanic penguins are typically timid; the bold behaviour of both these birds indicated previous habituation to humans, and so they may have reached New Zealand by ship (C. Robertson et al. 1972; Darby 1991; Guest 1991).
Section 2
Species for which a viable release has been documented, but with no record of reproduction in the wild.
Checklist Committee (2010) incorrectly listed that ‘a viable release’ of the squatter pigeon (Geophaps scripta) had occurred when there is no record of the species being released (Thomson 1922). Long (1981) incorrectly ascribed this record to the partridge pigeon Geophaps smithii (Jardine & Selby, 1830). A pair of “Australian owls” of unknown species (but considered likely to be southern boobooks Ninox boobook by Checklist Committee (2010)) was released at Waikouaiti but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
DROMAIIDAE
Dromaius novaehollandiae (Latham)
Emu
Casuarius N. Hollandiae Latham, 1790: Index Ornith. 2: 665 – “Nova Hollandia”, restricted to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (fide Mathews 1910, Birds Australia 1: 3).
Dromaius novae-hollandiae; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 99.
Dromaius novaehollandiae (Latham); Condon 1975, Checklist Birds Australia 1: 1.
Introduced to Kawau Island in 1868 but “all died” (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known.
ANATIDAE
Branta hutchinsii (Richardson)
Cackling Goose
Anser Hutchinsii Richardson, 1832: in Swainson & Richardson, Fauna Boreali–Americana, Birds 2: 470 – Melville Peninsula, Canada.
Branta canadensis hutchinsii (Richardson); Johnsgard 1979, in Peters Check-list Birds World 1, 2nd edition: 443.
Branta hutchinsii (Richardson); R.C. Banks et al. 2004, Auk 121: 986.
R.C. Banks et al. (2004) split the Canada goose (Branta canadensis (Linnaeus)) into two species: Canada goose (B. canadensis) and cackling goose (B. hutchinsii). The larger subspecies previously recognised (B. c. maxima) is included under B. canadensis, with the smaller subspecies included under B. hutchinsii. The surviving birds in New Zealand are from the B. c. maxima stock (see Imber 1971), now included in B. canadensis (sensu stricto), but some of the many independent introductions made by local Acclimatisation Societies were of the smaller species.
Anser caerulescens caerulescens (Linnaeus)
Lesser Snow Goose
Anas caerulescens Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 124 – Canada, restricted to Hudson Bay (fide Johnsgard 1979, in Peters Check-list Birds World 1, 2nd edition: 439).
Anser hyperboreus Pallas, 1769: Spicilegia Zool. 6: 25 – north-eastern Siberia.
Chen hyperboreus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 106.
Anser caerulescens caerulescens (Linnaeus); Johnsgard 1979, in Peters Check-list Birds World 1, 2nd edition: 439.
Released at Matamata in the late 1870s but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Biziura lobata (Shaw)
Musk Duck
Anas lobata Shaw, 1796: in Shaw & Nodder, Nat. Miscell. 8: pl. 255 and text – New South Wales, error for King George Sound, Western Australia (fide Mathews 1915, Birds Australia 4: 143).
Biziura lobata (Shaw); Johnsgard 1979, in Peters Check-list Birds World 1, 2nd edition: 504.
A. Hamilton (1909) listed the species as “established”, but it was not mentioned by Thomson (1922).
Aix galericulata (Linnaeus)
Mandarin Duck
Anas galericulata Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 128 – China.
Aix galericulata; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 103.
Aix galericulata (Linnaeus); Johnsgard 1979, in Peters Check-list Birds World 1, 2nd edition: 457.
Released in Canterbury (1871, 1885), Otago (1907), and possibly elsewhere, but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Anas crecca Linnaeus
Common Teal
Anas Crecca Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 126 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Linnaeus 1761, Fauna Svecica, 2nd edition: 45).
Nettion crecca; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 100.
Anas crecca Linnaeus; Johnsgard 1979, in Peters Check-list Birds World 1, 2nd edition: 464.
Released in Wellington, Canterbury, Nelson, and elsewhere (1897) but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Mareca penelope (Linnaeus)
Eurasian Widgeon
Anas penelope Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 126 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Linnaeus 1761, Fauna Svecica, 2nd edition: 44).
Mareca penelope; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 100.
Anas penelope Linnaeus; Johnsgard 1979, in Peters Check-list Birds World 1, 2nd edition: 462.
Released on Lake Kaniere, Westland (1904), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Aythya ferina (Linnaeus)
Common Pochard
Anas ferina Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 126 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Linnaeus 1761, Fauna Svecica, 2nd edition: 45).
Anas Ferina Linnaeus; A. Hamilton 1909, Hand-list Birds New Zealand: 19.
Nyroca ferina; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 99.
Aythya ferina (Linnaeus); Johnsgard 1979, in Peters Check-list Birds World 1, 2nd edition: 483.
Released in Wellington (1894, 1895), Taranaki (1898), and elsewhere, but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Aythya (fuligula?) (Linnaeus)
Indian Black Duck
Anas Fuligula Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 128 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Linnaeus 1761, Fauna Svecica, 2nd edition: 47).
Anas cristata J.B. Fischer, 1778: Versuch Natur. Livland: 81 – Eurasia.
“Black Indian Duck” Fuligula cristata; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 103.
Aythya fuligula (Linnaeus); Johnsgard 1979, in Peters Check-list Birds World 1, 2nd edition: 486.
Long (1981) considered that the “Indian black duck (golden-eye)” released at Lake Okareka (1906) that failed to establish (Thomson 1922) belonged to this species. However, it could have been any of several species of Aythya from India, for example, the ferruginous pochard, Aythya nyroca Guldenstadt, 1770 (Checklist Committee 2010).
MEGAPODIIDAE
Alectura lathami J.E. Gray
Australian Brush-turkey
Alectura lathami J.E. Gray, 1831: Zool. Miscell. 1: 4 – near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Tallegallus lathami (J.E. Gray); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 65.
Catheturus lathami; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 107.
Alectura lathami J.E. Gray; Condon 1975, Checklist Birds Australia 1: 92.
Released at Kaipara (before 1869), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known, but probably A. l. lathami from south-east Queensland (Checklist Committee 2010).
ODONTOPHORIDAE
Oreortyx pictus (Douglas)
Mountain Quail
Ortyx picta Douglas, 1829: Phil. Magaz. (new series) 5: 74 – “Interior of New California” = headwaters of the Umpqua River near the Calapooia Mountains, USA (fide Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 43).
Oreortyx pictus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 119.
Oreortyx picta (Douglas); Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 43.
Oregon pictus (Douglas); McDowall 1994, Gamekeepers for the Nation: 326.
Released at Matamata (1877), Lake Omapere in Northland (1881), south of Dunedin and northern Southland (1881), and in the Rock and Pillar Range (1882), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known.
PHASIANIDAE
Coturnix coturnix coturnix (Linnaeus)
Eurasian Quail
Tetrao Coturnix Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 161 – Europa, Asia, and Africa, restricted to Sweden (fide Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 92).
“Egyptian Quail (species?)”; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 120.
Coturnix coturnix coturnix (Linnaeus); McGowan in del Hoyo et al. 1994, Handb. Birds World 2: 509.
Released in the Waitaki River valley (c. 1883) and Auckland (before 1914), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Coturnix coromandelica (Gmelin)
Rain Quail
Tetrao coromandelicus Gmelin, 1789: Syst. Nat., 13th edition 1(2): 764. Based on the “Coromandel Quail” of Latham 1783, Gen. Synop. Birds 2(2): 789 – Coromandel Coast, India.
Coturnix coromandelica; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 120.
Coturnix coromandelica (Gmelin); McDowall 1994, Gamekeepers for the Nation: 326.
Recorded in McDowall (1994) as introduced to Otago (c. 1880) “without successful establishment”; however, Thomson (1922; as Indian quail) questioned whether any were released.
Coturnix pectoralis Gould
Stubble Quail
Coturnix pectoralis Gould, 1837: Synop. Birds Australia 2: pl. 29, fig. 1 – Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Coturnix pectoralis Gould; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 67.
Coturnix pectoralis; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 119.
Introduced to Auckland and Canterbury (F. Hutton 1871), and subsequently to the Hokianga (Kemp in Thomson 1922), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known, but probably C. p. pectoralis from eastern Australia (Checklist Committee 2010). The stubble quail and New Zealand quail (C. novaezelandiae, q.v.) have sometimes been regarded as subspecies of the same species (e.g. Checklist Committee 1990), but are now considered specifically distinct.
Synoicus chinensis chinensis (Linnaeus)
Asian Blue-breasted Quail
Tetrao chinensis Linnaeus, 1766: Syst. Nat., 12th edition 1: 277 – China and Philippines, restricted to Nanking, China (fide Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 95).
Excalphatoria [sic] sinensis; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 118. Unjustified emendation.
Excalfactoria chinensis chinensis (Linnaeus); Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 95.
Excalphatoria [sic] sinensis; McDowall 1994, Gamekeepers for the Nation: 326. Unjustified emendation.
Coturnix chinensis chinensis (Linnaeus); McGowan in del Hoyo et al. 1994, Handb. Birds World 2: 511.
Excalfactoria chinensis (Linnaeus); Christidis & Boles 2008, Syst. Taxon. Australian Birds: 14, 61.
Synoicus chinensis chinensis (Linnaeus); Dickinson & Remsen 2013, Howard & Moore Complete Checklist Birds World, 4th edition, 1: 34.
Recorded in McDowall (1994) as introduced to Otago “without successful establishment”; however, Thomson (1922) did not document any release.
Tragopan temminckii (J.E. Gray)
Temminck’s Tragopan
Satyra Temminckii J.E. Gray, 1831: in Hardwicke, Illust. Indian Zool. 1(9): pl. 50 – no locality = China (fide Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 109).
Ceriornis temminckii; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 117.
Tragopan temminckii (J.E. Gray); Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 109.
Two apparently released in Auckland, but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Syrmaticus reevesii (J.E. Gray)
Reeves’ Pheasant
Phasianus Reevesii J.E. Gray, 1829: in E. Griffith, Anim. Kingdom 8 (Aves, 3): 25 – China.
Phasianus reevesii; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 117.
Syrmaticus reevesii (J.E. Gray); Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 128.
Released “up the Wanganui River” (c. 1899), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Chrysolophus pictus (Linnaeus)
Golden Pheasant
Phasianus pictus Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 158 – China.
Thaumalea picta (Linnaeus); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 69.
Chrysolophus pictus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 110.
Chrysolophus pictus (Linnaeus); Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 130.
Imported by Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Otago Acclimatisation Societies. Thomson (1922) stated, “I do not think these birds were liberated at any time”. However, A. Hamilton (1909) listed it as introduced and established.
Lophura nycthemera (Linnaeus)
Silver Pheasant
Phasianus nycthemerus Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 159 – China.
Gallophasis nycthemerus (Linnaeus); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 69.
Gennaeus nycthemerus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 117.
Lophura nycthemera (Linnaeus); Howard & Moore 1991, Complete Checklist Birds World, 2nd edition: 54.
Released before 1868 near Whangarei (R. Taylor 1868), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Lagopus lagopus scotica (Latham)
Red Grouse
Tetrao scoticus Latham, 1789: Gen. Synop. Birds, Suppl. 1: 290 – Scotland.
Lagopus scoticus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 128.
Lagopus scoticus (Latham); Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 30.
Lagopus lagopus scotica (Latham); Dickinson & Remsen 2013, Howard & Moore Complete Checklist Birds World, 4th edition, 1: 45.
Introduced to Matamata (1872, 1873) but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Lyrurus tetrix (Linnaeus)
Black Grouse
Tetrao Tetrix Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 159 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 27)
Lyrurus tetrix; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 128.
Lyrurus tetrix (Linnaeus); Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 27.
Introduced to south Otago (1879) but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known, but probably L. t. britannicus Witherby & Lonnberg, 1913, from Great Britain (Checklist Committee 2010).
Tympanuchus phasianellus (Linnaeus)
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Tetrao Phasianellus Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 160 – Canada, restricted to Hudson Bay, North America (fide Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 40).
Pedioecetes phasianellus (Linnaeus); G. Williams 1969, Natural History Canterbury: 442.
Tympanuchus phasianellus (Linnaeus); Howard & Moore 1991, Complete Checklist Birds World, 2nd edition: 44.
Birds of unspecified subspecies were released in South Canterbury in 1927, but were not seen again (G. Williams 1969).
Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus (Ord)
Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse
Phasianus Columbianus Ord, 1815: in Guthrie, Geography, 2nd edition, 2: 317 – Great Plains of the Columbia River.
Podioecetus [sic] columbianus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 129.
Pedioecetes phasianellus columbianus (Ord); Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 40.
Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus (Ord); Howard & Moore 1991, Complete Checklist Birds World, 2nd edition: 44.
Introduced to Piako (1876), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus (Brewster)
Greater Prairie-chicken
Cupidonia pinnata Brewster, 1885: Auk 2: 82 – Vermilion, South Dakota, USA.
Tympanuchus americanus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 127. Not Cupidonia americana Reichenbach, 1853.
Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus (Brewster); Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 41.
Tympanuchus cupido; G. Williams 1969, Natural History Canterbury: 442. Not Tetrao cupido Linnaeus, 1758.
Introduced to central Canterbury (1879) and Auckland (1881), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922; G. Williams 1969).
COLUMBIDAE
Streptopelia turtur (Linnaeus)
European Turtle-dove
Columba Turtur Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 164 – India, error for England (fide Peters 1937, Check-list Birds World 3: 89).
Turtur auritus; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 64. Not Columba aurita Temminck, 1811.
Turtur turtur; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 134.
Streptopelia turtur (Linnaeus); Peters 1937, Check-list Birds World 3: 89.
Released in Nelson and Auckland before 1871 (F. Hutton 1871) but failed to establish. Subspecies not known.
Streptopelia bitorquata (Temminck)
Island Collared Dove
Columba Bitorquata Temminck, 1811: in Knip, Les Pigeons, les Colombes 9: 86, pl. 40 – Indies, restricted to Timor (fide Hellmayr 1914, Avif. Timor: 91).
Streptopelia bitorquata (Temminck); Peters 1937, Check-list Birds World 3: 97.
Five “Java doves” were released at Green Island, Dunedin, in 1867 (Thomson 1922). The Nelson and Wellington Acclimatisation Societies introduced some but it is unclear whether they were released (Thomson 1922). Long (1981) assumed that this species was the “Java dove”.
Phaps histrionica (Gould)
Flock Bronzewing
Peristera histrionica Gould, 1841: Birds of Australia 5: pl. 66 & text – plains in interior of New South Wales = Liverpool Plains, New South Wales, Australia (fide Peters 1937, Check-list Birds World 3: 120).
Phaps histrionica (Gould); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 64.
Phaps histrionica; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 132.
Introduced to Auckland (1869; Thomson 1922) and apparently released (F. Hutton 1871), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known.
Ocyphaps lophotes (Temminck)
Crested Pigeon
Columba lophotes Temminck, 1822: in Temminck & Laugier de Chartrouse, Nouv. Recueil Planch Color. d’Oiseaux 2(24): text to pl. 142 – New South Wales, west of Blue Mountains, Australia.
Ocyphaps lophotes; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 132.
Ocyphaps lophotes (Temminck); Peters 1937, Check-list Birds World 3: 118.
Released in Wellington (1876, 1877) and Auckland (1887) but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Genus and species uncertain
Green pigeon (Drepanoptila holosericea (Temminck, 1811)), Solomon Island crowned pigeon (Microgoura meeki Rothschild, 1904) (now considered extinct) and diamond dove (Geopelia cuneata (Latham, 1801)) were all mentioned by F. Hutton (1871) as introduced to Auckland, but the identifications are considered questionable (Checklist Committee 2010). The “Moreton Bay dove”, considered to be Chalcophaps indica by Checklist Committee (2010), was released in Canterbury in 1867, but failed to establish (Thomson 1922)’.
PTEROCLIDIDAE
Pterocles alchata (Linnaeus)
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Tetrao Alchata Linnaeus, 1766: Syst. Nat., 12th edition 1: 276 – Europe.
“probably Pterochlurus alchatus”; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 132.
Pterocles alchata (Linnaeus); Howard & Moore 1991, Complete Checklist Birds World, 2nd edition: 80.
Released in the Rock and Pillar Range (1882), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known.
CHARADRIIDAE
Pluvialis apricaria (Linnaeus)
European Golden Plover
Charadrius apricarius Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 150 – “Oelandia, Canada”, restricted to Lapland (fide Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 244).
Charadrius pluvialis Linnaeus, 1766: Syst. Nat., 12th edition 1: 254 – Northern Europe.
Charadrius pluvialis; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 130.
Pluvialis apricaria (Linnaeus); Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 244.
Released in Otago (1897) and possibly elsewhere, but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Vanellus vanellus (Linnaeus)
Eurasian Lapwing
Tringa Vanellus Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 148 – Europe and Africa, restricted to Sweden (fide Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 235).
Vanellus cristatus Wolf & Meyer, 1805: Hist. Nat. Oiseaux 1: 110 – Eurasia.
Vanellus aristatus [sic] (Linnaeus); A. Hamilton 1909, Hand-list Birds New Zealand: 18.
Vanellus cristatus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 130.
Vanallus [sic] cristatus; Drummond 1907, N.Z. Dept. Agriculture, Biology Horticulture Bulletin 16: vii, 15.
Vanellus vanellus (Linnaeus); Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 235.
Released in Auckland (1872), Canterbury (1873), Otago (1897), Wellington (1904; Thomson 1922), and Westland (1904; Drummond 1907). It is doubtful whether any releases resulted in viable populations (Thomson 1922).
TURNICIDAE
Turnix varius (Latham)
Painted Buttonquail
Perdix varia Latham, 1801: Index Ornith. Suppl.: lxiii – “Nova Hollandia”, restricted to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (fide Condon 1975, Checklist Birds Australia 1: 98).
Turnix varius (Latham); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 67.
Turnix varia (Latham); Condon 1975, Checklist Birds Australia 1: 98.
Introduced to Auckland and Canterbury (F. Hutton 1871) but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known, but probably nominate (Checklist Committee 2010).
TYTONIDAE
Tyto alba alba (Scopoli)
European Barn Owl
Strix alba Scopoli, 1769: Annus 1, Hist. Nat.: 21 – Friuli, northern Italy.
Strix flammea; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 138. Not Strix flammea Pontoppidan, 1763.
Tyto alba alba (Scopoli); Peters 1940, Check-list Birds World 4: 77.
Released west Taieri (1899) but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies probably T. a. alba from Britain (Checklist Committee 2010), unlike genuine vagrants to New Zealand which are T. a. delicatula.
STRIGIDAE
Strix aluco Linnaeus
Tawny Owl
Strix Aluco Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 93 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Peters 1940, Check-list Birds World 4: 159).
Syrnium aluco (Linnaeus); Buller 1888, History of the Birds of N.Z., 2nd edition 1: xlvii.
Smyrnium [sic] aluco; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 140.
Strix aluco Linnaeus; Peters 1940, Check-list Birds World 4: 159.
A pair released at Napier in 1873 (Buller 1887–88) failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known.
PSITTACULIDAE
Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus (Kuhl)
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Psittacus chlorolepidotus Kuhl, 1820: Nova Acta Acad. Caesarea Leopold.-Carol. 10: 48 – “Nova Hollandia”, restricted to central east coast, New South Wales, Australia (fide Mathews 1912, Novit. Zool. 18(3): 259).
Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus (Kuhl); Schodde 1997, Zool. Cat. Australia 37.2: 132.
In 2000–01, the Department of Conservation trapped two free-living birds on the North Shore, Auckland, presumably as a result of deliberate release from captivity (Polkanov & Keeling 2002).
Melopsittacus undulatus (Shaw)
Budgerigar
Psittacus undulatus Shaw, 1805: in Shaw & Nodder, Nat. Miscell. 16: text to pl. 673 – “Australasia/New Holland”, restricted to coastal south and west Australia (fide Schodde 1997, Zool. Cat. Australia 37.2: 151).
Melopsittacus undulatus (Shaw); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 63.
Melopsittacus undulatus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 136.
Released in Canterbury (F. Hutton 1871) and Auckland (1871), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
MALURIDAE
Malurus cyaneus cyanochlamys Sharpe
Eastern Superb Fairy-wren
Malurus cyanochlamys Sharpe, 1881: Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1881 (50): 788 – Moreton Bay, south-eastern Queensland, Australia.
Malurus cyaneus; Westerskov 1953, Notornis 5(3): 106. Not Motacilla cyanea Latham, 1783.
Malurus cyaneus cyanochlamys Sharpe; E. Mayr 1986, in Peters Check-list Birds World 11: 396.
Twelve birds from Sydney Zoo were released in 1923 at three localities around Lake Rotorua, and at the base of Mount Tongariro (Westerskov 1953a). No subsequent reports.
MELIPHAGIDAE
Philemon corniculatus (Latham)
Noisy Friarbird
Merops corniculatus Latham, 1790: Index Ornith. 1: 276 – “Nova Hollandia”, restricted to New South Wales, Australia (fide Salomonsen 1967, in Peters Check-list Birds World 12: 411).
Philemon corniculatus (Latham); Salomonsen 1967, in Peters Check-list Birds World 12: 411.
“Naturalised in N. Wellington” (F. Hutton undated).
CORVIDAE
Corvus monedula Linnaeus
Jackdaw
Corvus Monedula Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 106 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Hartert 1903, Vögel Pal. Fauna: 15).
Corvus monedula Linnaeus; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 57.
Corvus monedula; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 154.
Released in Canterbury before 1871 (F. Hutton 1871), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
ESTRILDIDAE
Lonchura oryzivora (Linnaeus)
Java Sparrow
Loxia oryzivora Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 173 – Asia and Ethiopia, restricted to Java (fide E. Mayr 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 388).
Padda oryzivora (Linnaeus); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 62.
Munia orizyvora [sic] Linnaeus; A. Hamilton 1909, Hand-list Birds New Zealand: 18.
Munia oryzivora; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 163.
Lonchura oryzivora (Linnaeus); Christidis & Boles 1994, Taxonomy Species Birds Australia 2: 26.
Introduced to Nelson (1862) and Auckland (1867), but failed to establish (F. Hutton 1871; Drummond 1907; Thomson 1922).
Stagonopleura bella (Latham)
Beautiful Firetail
Loxia bella Latham, 1801: Index Ornith. Suppl.: xliv – “Nova Hollandia”, restricted to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (fide E. Mayr 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 354).
Zonaeginthus bellus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 164.
Stagonopleura bella (Latham); Christidis & Boles 1994, Taxonomy Species Birds Australia 2: 26.
Birds of unspecified subspecies were received by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society in 1870, but apparently not released; a further eight birds were introduced in Wellington before 1885, but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Stagonopleura bella samueli (Mathews)
South-east Australian Beautiful Firetail
Zonaeginthus bellus samueli Mathews, 1912: Austral Avian Rec. 1: 102 – Kangaroo Island, Australia.
Stagonopleura bella samueli (Mathews); Schodde & Mason 1999, Directory Australian Birds. Passerines: 745.
Introduced from Tasmania and released in Auckland (F. Hutton undated), but failed to establish.
Neochmia temporalis (Latham)
Red-browed Finch
Fringilla temporalis Latham 1801 Index Ornith. Suppl.: xlviii – “Nova Hollandia”, restricted to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (fide E. Mayr 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 353).
Estrelda temporalis (Latham); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 59.
Aegintha temporalis; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 163.
Neochmia temporalis (Latham); Christidis & Boles 1994, Taxonomy Species Birds Australia 2: 26.
Introduced from Queensland to Otago in 1867 and Auckland in 1871 (F. Hutton 1871; Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known but probably N. t. temporalis Checklist Committee (2010). Thomson (1922) inferred from the common name “nutmeg sparrow” that Hutton (1871) actually referred to Lonchura punctulata and not to Neochmia temporalis but, if Hutton’s information about the birds coming from Queensland is correct, L. punctulata is ruled out as this species was not introduced to Queensland until the 1930s (Schodde & Mason 1999).
Poephila cincta (Gould)
Black-throated Finch
Amadina cincta Gould, 1837: Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1836 (4): 105 – Upper Hunter River district, New South Wales, Australia.
Poephila cincta (Gould); E. Mayr 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 361.
Released in Auckland from Queensland (F. Hutton undated), but failed to establish. Subspecies not known, but probably P. c. cincta (Checklist Committee 2010).
Taeniopygia guttata castanotis (Gould)
Australian Zebra Finch
Amadina castanotis Gould, 1837: Synop. Birds Australia 1: pl. 10, fig. 1 – interior of New South Wales, Australia.
Taeniopygia castanotis; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 164.
Taeniopygia guttata castanotis (Gould); Schodde & Mason 1999, Directory Australian Birds. Passerines: 761.
Twelve birds introduced in Wellington before 1885, but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). A common cage-bird species, which regularly escapes and is occasionally reported from the wild (C. Robertson et al. 2007), but without confirmed self-sustaining populations.
PASSERIDAE
Passer montanus (Linnaeus)
Tree Sparrow
Fringilla montana Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 183 – Europe, restricted to Bagnacavallo, Ravenna, Italy (fide Clancey 1948, Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club 68: 135).
Passer montanus (Linnaeus); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 62.
Passer montanus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 170.
Released in Otago (1868) and Auckland (1868, 1871), but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known.
FRINGILLIDAE
Pyrrhula pyrrhula (Linnaeus)
Bullfinch
Loxia Pyrrhula Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 171 – Europe.
Pyrrhula rubicilla Pallas, 1811: Zoogr. Rosso-Asiatica 2: 7 – Russia.
Pyrrhula europoea Vieillot, 1816: Nouv. Dict. Hist. Nat., nouv. éd. 4: 286 – Europe, restricted to western France (fide Mayaud 1933, Alauda 5: 462).
Pyrrhula rubicilla Pallas; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 59.
Pyrrhula europoea; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 175.
Pyrrhula pyrrhula (Linnaeus); Paynter 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 296.
F. Hutton (1871) refers to six birds released in Nelson, but see Thomson (1922). There are sight records, notably in Hawke’s Bay by H. Guthrie-Smith (Drummond 1907), but no definite records of release there. However, Thomson (1922) suggested that releases were made in the 1870s. Probably P. p. pileata MacGillivray, 1837 from the British Isles (Checklist Committee 2010).
Linaria flavirostris (Linnaeus)
Twite
Fringilla flavirostris Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 182 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Hartert 1903, Vögel Pal. Fauna: 76).
Linota flavirostris; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 172.
Carduelis flavirostris (Linnaeus); Cramp & Perrins 1994, Birds Western Palearctic 8: 625.
Linaria flavirostris (Linnaeus); Zuccon, Prŷs-Jones, Rasmussen & Ericson 2012, Mol. Phyl. Evol. 62: 594.
Released in Dunedin (1871) but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Probably L. f. pipilans from the British Isles (Checklist Committee 2010).
Serinus canaria (Linnaeus)
Canary
Fringilla Canaria Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 181 – Islas Canarias, Spain.
Fringilla canaria Linnaeus; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 60.
Serinus canarius [sic]; Thomson 922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 176.
Serinus canaria (Linnaeus); Paynter 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 210.
There was no serious attempt to introduce this species by Acclimatisation Societies, but deliberate private releases to establish it had no success (Thomson 1922).
EMBERIZIDAE
Schoeniclus schoeniclus (Linnaeus)
Reed Bunting
Fringilla schoeniclus Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 182 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Hartert 1904, Vögel Pal. Fauna: 194).
Emberiza schoeniculus [sic] (Linnaeus); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 63.
Emberiza schoeniclus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 175.
Emberiza schoeniclus (Linnaeus); Paynter 1970, in Peters Check-list Birds World 13: 31.
Schoeniclus schoeniclus (Linnaeus); Dickinson & Christidis 2014, Howard & Moore Complete Checklist Birds World, 4th edition, 2: 356.
Released in Otago (1871) but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Probably the nominate subspecies from western Europe (Checklist Committee 2010).
ICTERIDAE
Sturnella neglecta Audubon
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta Audubon, 1844: Birds Amer. 7: 339, pl. 489 – Missouri River above Fort Croghan = old Fort Vernon, North Dakota, USA (fide Blake 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 180).
Sturnula ludoviciana Linnaeus; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 58.
Sturnella neglecta; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 164.
Sturnella neglecta Audubon; Blake 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 180.
Two introduced to Auckland from California in 1869, but failed to establish (F. Hutton 1871; Thomson 1922).
Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus)
Red-winged Blackbird
Oriolus phoenicus Linnaeus, 1766: Syst. Nat., 12th edition 1: 161 – North America, restricted to Charleston, South Carolina, USA (fide Howell & van Rossem 1928, Auk 45: 157).
Agelaius phaeniceus [sic] Dand. [sic]; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 58.
Agelaius phoeniceus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 164.
Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus); Blake 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 171.
Two introduced to Auckland from California in 1869, but failed to establish (F. Hutton 1871; Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known.
PARIDAE
Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus)
Blue Tit
Parus caeruleus Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 190 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Snow in Peters 1967, Check-list Birds World 12: 113).
Parus caeruleus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 152.
Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus); Sangster et al. 2005, Ibis 147(4): 826.
Released in Canterbury (c. 1871) but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known.
ALAUDIDAE
Lullula arborea (Linnaeus)
Woodlark
Alauda arborea Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 166 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Peters 1960, Check-list Birds World 9: 65).
Lullula arborea; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 142.
Lullula arborea (Linnaeus); Peters 1960, Check-list Birds World 9: 65.
Three (F. Hutton undated) or five birds (Thomson 1922) were introduced to Auckland. Probably of the nominate subspecies from western Europe (Checklist Committee 2010).
SYLVIIDAE
Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus)
Blackcap
Motacilla Atricapilla Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 187 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Hartet 1909, Vögel Pal. Fauna: 583).
Sylvia atricapilla; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 150.
Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus); Watson 1986, in Peters Check-list Birds World 11: 271.
Five released in Auckland in 1872, but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known.
Curruca communis (Latham)
Whitethroat
Sylvia communis Latham, 1787: Gen. Synop. Birds Suppl.: 287 – England, restricted to Kent (fide Clancey 1950, Auk 67: 393).
Sylvia cinerea Bechstein, 1803: Ornith. Taschenb. Deutschland: 170 – Germany.
Sylvia cinerea Latham [sic]; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 55.
Sylvia cinerea; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 149.
Sylvia communis Latham; Watson 1986, in Peters, Check-list Birds World 11: 273.
Curruca communis (Latham); Dickinson & Christidis 2014, Howard & Moore Complete Checklist Birds World, 4th edition, 2: 511.
Two released in Auckland in 1868, but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known.
MUSCICAPIDAE
Luscinia megarhynchos (Brehm)
Common Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos C.L. Brehm, 1831: Handb. Naturgesch. Vög. Deutschl.: 356 – Germany.
Oedon luscinia; A. Hamilton 1909, Hand-list Birds New Zealand: 18. Not Motacilla luscinia Linnaeus, 1758.
Daulias luscinia; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 148. Not Motacilla luscinia Linnaeus, 1758.
Luscinia megarhynchos Brehm; Cramp 1988, Birds Western Palearctic 5: 626.
Thomson (1922) described three failed importation attempts by the Otago, Auckland, and Canterbury Acclimatisation Societies from 1871 to 1879, including a single bird released into Hagley Park, Christchurch (Drummond 1907). Although listed by A. Hamilton (1909) as introduced and established, it failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Probably of the nominate subspecies from western Europe (Checklist Committee 2010).
Family, genus and species uncertain
An “Australian shrike” was released in Wellington (1877, 1878) but failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Section 3
Species for which a deliberate introduction took place, and published records indicate that the species bred, but it is no longer considered to be extant.
ANATIDAE
Aix sponsa (Linnaeus)
American Wood Duck
Anas sponsa Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 128 – North America, restricted to Carolina, USA (fide Johnsgard 1979, in Peters Check-list Birds World 1, 2nd edition: 457).
Dafila acuta; A. Hamilton 1909, Hand-list Birds New Zealand: 18. Not Anas acuta Linnaeus, 1758.
Aex [sic] sponsa; A. Hamilton 1909, Hand-list Birds New Zealand: 19.
Aix sponsa; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 103.
Aix sponsa (Linnaeus); Johnsgard 1979, in Peters Check-list Birds World 1, 2nd edition: 457.
Released in Auckland (1867), Christchurch (before 1871), Wellington (1894, 1899), Otago (1906), and Lake Okareka near Rotorua (1906). The Christchurch population was apparently “thriving” in 1906, but the population did not persist (Thomson 1922).
Cairina moschata (Linnaeus)
Muscovy Duck
Anas moschata Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 124 – India.
Cairina moschata; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 99.
Cairina moschata (Linnaeus); Johnsgard 1979, in Peters Check-list Birds World 1, 2nd edition: 454.
Six birds released on Adams Island, Auckland Islands / Maukahuka (1865) but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). A number of feral populations reported from various parts of New Zealand, but their status needs further investigation (C. Robertson et al. 2007).
Alopochen aegyptiaca (Linnaeus)
Egyptian Goose
Anas aegyptiaca Linnaeus, 1766: Syst. Nat., 12th edition 1: 197 – Egypt.
Chenalopex aegyptiacus (Linnaeus); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 69.
Chenalopex aegyptiaca; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 103.
Alopochen aegyptiaca (Linnaeus); Johnsgard 1979, in Peters Check-list Birds World 1, 2nd edition: 449.
Introduced to Kawau Island (1860) and possibly elsewhere; spread throughout North Island but became extinct in the late 1800s (Thomson 1922).
ODONTOPHORIDAE
Colinus virginianus taylori Lincoln
Midwestern Northern Bobwhite Quail
Ortyx virginanus [sic]; A. Hamilton 1909, Hand-list Birds New Zealand: 19.
Colinus virginianus taylori Lincoln, 1915: Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 28: 103 – Laird, Yuma County, Colorado, USA.
Ortyx virginiana; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 127. Not Tetrao virginianus Linnaeus, 1758.
Colinus virginianus; McDowall 1994, Gamekeepers for the Nation: 326. Not Tetrao virginianus Linnaeus, 1758.
Colinus virginianus (Linnaeus) subspecies; Checklist Committee 1953, Checklist N.Z. Birds: 37.
Colinus virginianus; Checklist Committee 1990, Checklist Birds N.Z.: 113. Not Tetrao virginianus Linnaeus, 1758.
Colinus virginianus taylori Lincoln; McGowan in del Hoyo et al. 1994, Handb. Birds World 2: 425.
Introduced and liberated throughout the North and South Islands (summer 1899–1900) with a later release on the east coast of the North Island (1902). Persisted in South Auckland until at least 1922 and possibly in the Wairoa area until 1970 (Thomson 1922; Westerskov 1956; Checklist Committee 1990). Released unsuccessfully in Otago (1947–48; Gurr 1953; McDowall 1994).
PHASIANIDAE
Synoicus ypsilophorus ypsilophorus (Bosc)
Tasmanian Brown Quail
Coturnix ypsilophorus Bosc, 1792: Journ. d’Hist. Natur. 2: 297, pl. 39 – no locality = Tasmania (fide Mathews Mathews 1913, List Birds Australia: 7).
Synoïcus Diemenensis Gould, 1847: Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1847 (15): 33 – “Van Diemen’s Land” = Tasmania, Australia.
Coturnix australis; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 66. Not Perdix australis Latham, 1801.
Synoecus [sic] Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 118. Not Perdix australis Latham, 1801.
Synoecus [sic] diemenensis; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 119.
Coturnix ypsilophora ypsilophora Bosc; Marchant & Higgins 1993, HANZAB 2: 404.
Synoicus ypsilophorus ypsilophorus (Bosc); Dickinson & Remsen 2013, Howard & Moore Complete Checklist Birds World, 4th edition, 1: 34.
Recorded as introduced by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society in 1869 (F. Hutton 1871; A. Hamilton 1909; Thomson 1922). An unverified specimen record from Pirongia (Jun. 1916; specimen not located) may indicate persistence after release (Thomson 1922) but more likely represents a misidentification (Checklist Committee 2010).
Alectoris barbara barbara (Bonnaterre)
Barbary Partridge
Perdix Barbara Bonnaterre, 1792: Tableaux Encycl. Méthod. Ornith. 1(51): 208, pl. 94, fig. 2 – no locality = Morocco (fide Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 67).
Perdix petrosa Meyer; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 66. Not Tetrao petrosus Gmelin, 1788.
Caccabis petrosa; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 124. Not Tetrao petrosus Gmelin, 1788.
Alectoris barbara barbara (Bonnaterre); Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 67.
Two birds released in Auckland (1868), and 13 on Kapiti Island (1892) where it apparently bred successfully but failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies of Kapiti birds not known.
Alectoris rufa (Linnaeus)
Red-legged Partridge
Tetrao rufus Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 160 – southern Europe, restricted to northern Italy (fide Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 66).
Caccabis rufa; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 123.
Alectoris rufa (Linnaeus); Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 66.
Caccabis rufa (Linnaeus); McDowall 1994, Gamekeepers for the Nation: 329.
Originally released in Wellington (before 1897), Stewart Island / Rakiura (1899), and probably elsewhere (Thomson 1922). Released east of Huntly in the 1970s, and widely over the northern half of the North Island between 1984 and 1987 (Checklist Committee 1990). From these releases, a few birds survived near Te Kauwhata, Waikato, until the mid-1990s (McDowall 1994). Releases in Manawatu, North and South Canterbury, and Marlborough in the 1980s are believed to have had limited success, with five records from these areas between 1999 and 2004 (C. Robertson et al. 2007). Subspecies not known but probably A. r. rufa (Checklist Committee 2010).
Gallus gallus gallus (Linnaeus)
Feral Chicken
Phasianus Gallus Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 158 – “India orientali, Pouli condor …”, restricted to Island of Pulo Condor, mouth of the Mekong River (fide Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 118).
Gallus Bankiva; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 69. Not Gallus bankiva Temminck, 1813.
Gallus bankiva; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 109. Not Gallus bankiva Temminck, 1813.
Gallus gallus; Hermes et al. 1986, Notornis 33: 142.
Gallus gallus gallus (Linnaeus); Fumihito et al. 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91: 12509.
Eastern Thailand, Cambodia, central and southern Laos, central and southern Vietnam; widely introduced around the world and established in Europe, the Americas, Australia, and islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans (Long 1981). Feral on Norfolk Island (Hermes 1985, Hermes et al. 1986), and since at least 1838 on Philip Island (J. Moore 1985b) where it is now extinct. Status on New Zealand mainland uncertain. First released by Cook in Queen Charlotte Sound in 1773 and a population still present in 1777 (J. Cook 1777; J. Cook & King 1784). Many unsuccessful introductions in North and South Islands, on the Auckland Islands / Maukahuka, and Campbell Island / Motu Ihupuku (Thomson 1922). In recent years, reports of ephemeral populations have been made, but none has lasted. Assignment of subspecies based on genetic results by Fumihito et al. (1994). Also called the Thai red junglefowl.
Perdix perdix perdix (Linnaeus)
Grey Partridge
Tetrao Perdix Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 160 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Peters 1934, Check-list Birds World 2: 88).
Perdix cinerea Brisson, 1760: Ornithologie 1: 219 – Europe.
Perdix cinerea Brisson; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 66.
Perdix cinerea; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 120.
“Caccabis saxatilis?”; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 124. Not Perdix saxatilis Bechstein, 1805.
Perdix perdix perdix (Linnaeus); Checklist Committee 1990, Checklist Birds N.Z.: 115.
Perdix perdix (Linnaeus); McDowall 1994, Gamekeepers for the Nation: 326.
Released around Auckland (1867–68, 1871, 1875, c. 1912), Waikato (c. 1912), Taranaki (1894, 1939), Wellington (1889, 1891, 1897), Christchurch (1867?, 1875, 1880), Otago (1869, 1871, 1896–97, 1900, 1909, 1911), Hawera (1898), Southland (c. 1879), and Stewart Island / Rakiura (1900). Some of these early introductions were briefly successful but all ultimately failed (Thomson 1922, McDowall 1994). In 1961, a concerted attempt was made with releases in South Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. Releases continued apace and, between 1964 and 1970, 11,000 grey partridges were released in North Canterbury alone. These releases also failed. The last published record of a bird in the wild was for 1975 (McDowall 1994). Subspecies not recorded but in most cases probably P. p. perdix from United Kingdom and Europe (Checklist Committee 2010). Some early releases were of the “Hungarian partridge” but this bird – sometimes misidentified as Perdix saxatilis – is now included in P. p. perdix.
COLUMBIDAE
Leucosarcia melanoleuca (Latham)
Wonga Pigeon
Columba melanoleuca Latham, 1801: Index Ornith. Suppl.: lix – Port Jackson, New South Wales, Australia.
Columba picata Latham, 1801: Index Ornith. Suppl.: lix – Port Jackson, New South Wales, Australia.
Phaps picata (Latham); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 65.
Leucosarcia picata; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 133.
Leucosarcia melanoleuca (Latham); Schodde 1997, Zool. Cat. Australia 37.2: 39.
Released in South Canterbury (c. 1890), Otago (c. 1869), and Wellington (1875–76). Wellington population survived for “some considerable time” and spread, but ultimately failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Phaps chalcoptera (Latham)
Common Bronzewing
Columba chalcoptera Latham, 1790: Index Ornith. 2: 604 – Norfolk Island, error for Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (fide Mathews 1921, Man. Birds of Australia: 251).
Phaps chalcoptera (Latham); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 64.
Phaps chalcoptera; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 132.
Released in Christchurch (1867 and possibly later), Otago (1867), and Kaipara (1867, 1869). Christchurch birds spread to Banks Peninsula and may have increased, but ultimately failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Oena capensis (Linnaeus)
Namaqua Dove
Columba capensis Linnaeus, 1766: Syst. Nat., 12th edition 1: 286 – Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.
Oena capensis; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 136.
Oena capensis (Linnaeus); Peters 1937, Check-list Birds World 3: 111.
Released Kawau Island (c. 1860) and became “very numerous” but ultimately failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Probably nominate subspecies (Checklist Committee 2010).
PSITTACULIDAE
Psittacula krameri (Scopoli)
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Psittacus krameri Scopoli, 1769: Annus 1, Hist. Nat.: 31 – no locality = Senegal (fide Neumann 1915, Orn. Monatsb. 23: 73).
Psittacula krameri (Scopoli, 1769); Peters 1937, Check-list Birds World 3: 242.
Accidental and deliberate illegal releases of cage birds since c. 2005, mainly in the northern North Island (including Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, and Hastings), plus an accidental release of 30 birds in Christchurch in 2016 (Miskelly 2018b). Listed as an Unwanted Organism under the Biosecurity Act, with efforts made to recapture or kill free-flying birds. Subspecies unknown but likely to be either or both P. k. borealis (Neumann, 1915) and P. k. manillensis (Bechstein, 1800) from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka (Miskelly 2018b).
Platycercus elegans (Gmelin)
Crimson Rosella
Psittacus elegans Gmelin, 1788: Syst. Nat., 13th edition 1(1): 318 – New South Wales, Australia.
Psittacus pennantii Latham, 1790: Index Ornith. 1: 90 – Botany Bay and Port Jackson, New South Wales, Australia.
Platycercus pennantii (Latham); G.R. Gray 1862, Ibis 4: 227.
Platycercus elegans (Gmelin); Checklist Committee 1970, Annot. Checklist Birds N.Z.: 58.
East and south-east Australia. Polytypic, with three colour-types including seven subspecies (Higgins 1999). Introduced to Wellington (c. 1963) and Otago (c. 1910 and possibly later) via escape from captivity (Checklist Committee 1970). Became established in the north-west suburbs of Wellington, and was seen regularly around the Dunedin district, where they may have partly hybridised with P. eximius (see Hamel 1970). Last recorded in Otago c. 1950, and in Wellington in 1993 (Hamel 1970; H. Robertson 1995; Stracy & Stracy 1995), and now considered extinct in the wild in New Zealand. Birds introduced into the New Zealand region have not been identified to subspecific level.
Trichoglossus haematodus moluccanus (Gmelin)
Eastern Australian Rainbow Lorikeet | Kākā Ōpure
Psittacus moluccanus Gmelin, 1788: Syst. Nat. 13th edition 1(1): 316 – Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (fide Schodde 1997, Zool. Cat. Australia 37.2: 135).
Trichoglossus haematodus moluccanus (Gmelin); Schodde 1997, Zool. Cat. Australia 37.2: 135.
Deliberately and illegally released c. 1992, mainly on the North Shore, Auckland (up to 120 individuals). Spread over an area from Maraetai and Manurewa in south Auckland, to Whangaparaoa in the north, with the highest concentration on the North Shore. They bred successfully and reached a maximum of 150–200 individuals in the wild. The Department of Conservation began eradication in late 1999, removing the viable population by 2002. Since then, 20–34 per year have been released, but most are captured before they become established. Most individuals are T. h. moluccanus, but two caught in 2001–02 were either of the Indonesian “red-necked” subspecies, or hybrids between T. h. moluccanus and the “red-necked” subspecies (Boyd 1999; Polkanov & Keeling 2002).
MELIPHAGIDAE
Manorina melanocephala melanocephala (Latham)
Victorian Noisy Miner
Gracula melanocephala Latham, 1801: Index Ornith. Suppl.: xxviii – “Nova Hollandia”, restricted to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (fide Salomonsen 1967, in Peters Check-list Birds World 12: 440).
Merops garrulus Latham, 1801: Index Ornith. Suppl.: xxxiv – “Nova Hollandia”, restricted to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (fide Salomonsen 1967, in Peters Check-list Birds World 12: 440).
Myzantha garrula Vigors & Horsfield [sic]; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 55.
Myzantha garrula; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 160.
Manorina melanocephala melanocephala (Latham); Salomonsen 1967, in Peters Check-list Birds World 12: 440.
Released in Nelson and Canterbury before 1871 (F. Hutton 1871) and possibly in Canterbury (1879), Otago, and Wellington (1874, 1876–78). “A colony was seen for a time at Taita” and, following a release in Nelson (c. 1870), they “flourished” there “for a time” (Huddlestone in Thomson 1922). All introductions ultimately failed to establish (Thomson 1922). The introductions before 1871 were from Victoria (Hutton 1871) but it is not clear that all were of the Victorian subspecies.
MONARCHIDAE
Grallina cyanoleuca cyanoleuca (Latham)
Southern Magpie-lark
Corvus cyanoleucus Latham, 1801: Index Ornith. Suppl.: xxv – Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Tanypus australis Oppel, 1812: Denkschr. Ak. Wissen. Münch.: 164 – New South Wales, Australia.
Saxicola picata; A. Hamilton 1909, Hand-list Birds New Zealand: 18. Not Saxicola picata Blyth, 1847.
Grallina australis; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 151.
Grallina cyanoleuca cyanoleuca (Latham); Schodde & Mason 1999, Directory Australian Birds. Passerines: 507.
Released on the west coast of the North Island (1898) and began nesting (Thomson 1922); also at Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, and Wellington (1900), where it spread widely (Kirk in Drummond 1907). However, it ultimately failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
ESTRILDIDAE
Lonchura castaneothorax castaneothorax (Gould)
Australian Chestnut-breasted Munia
Amadina castaneothorax Gould, 1837: Synop. Birds Australia 2: pl. 21, fig. 2 & text – Australia, restricted to interior of New South Wales (fide E. Mayr 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 385).
Donacola castaneothorax Latham [sic]; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 59.
Munia castaneithorax [sic]; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 163.
Lonchura castaneothorax castaneothorax (Gould); E. Mayr 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 385.
Introduced from Queensland (F. Hutton 1871); released in Nelson before 1864 and Auckland (1867, 1871), where they became “thoroughly acclimatized” but ultimately failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
Stagonopleura guttata (Shaw)
Diamond Firetail
Loxia guttata Shaw, 1796: Mus. Leverianum 6: 47 – Australia, restricted to Sydney, New South Wales (fide Mayr 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 355).
Pardalotus punctatus Temminck; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 56.
Steganopleura [sic] guttata; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 163.
Stagonopleura guttata (Shaw); Christidis & Boles 1994, Taxonomy Species Birds Australia 2: 26.
Released in Nelson before 1871 (F. Hutton 1871), Wellington in 1874 (Thomson 1922), and Canterbury (1864), where “flocks” were seen by 1866 (Anon. 1866), but it ultimately failed to establish. Also released, but not established, on Kawau Island (Thomson 1922). We accept Thomson’s contention that Hutton (1871) mistook this species for that given in his list as Pardalotus punctatus, since Hutton (1871: v, as “diamond sparrow”) stated that he had not seen this bird.
FRINGILLIDAE
Fringilla montifringilla Linnaeus
Brambling
Fringilla montifringilla Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 179 – Sweden.
Fringilla montifringilla; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 171.
Fringilla montifringilla Linnaeus; E. Mayr 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 206.
Released in Canterbury (1868, 1871), Wellington (1874, 1877), and subsequently seen in 1885, suggesting that breeding occurred (Thomson 1922). No further records.
Linaria cannabina (Linnaeus)
Eurasian Linnet
Fringilla cannabina Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 182 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Hartert 1903, Vögel Pal. Fauna: 73).
Linaria cannabina (Linnaeus); Bechstein 1802, Ornith. Taschenb. Deutschland 1: 191.
Fringilla cannabina Linnaeus; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 61.
Linota cannabina; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 171.
Carduelis cannabina (Linnaeus); Cramp & Perrins 1994, Birds Western Palearctic 8: 604.
Linaria cannabina (Linnaeus); Zuccon, Prŷs-Jones, Rasmussen & Ericson 2012, Mol. Phyl. Evol. 62: 594.
Released Otago (1867–68), Canterbury (1867–69, 1875), Auckland (1865, 1867–68), and Wellington (before 1882). Apparently present in south Westland before 1930 (Oliver 1930), but the status of this species was questioned by Fleming (1953). It was not mentioned in Oliver (1955) despite claims that it was at Pleasant Point, South Canterbury, in 1953 (N. Macdonald 1954). Inclusion here (in Section 3) is based on the statement by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society (c. 1874) that the species was “thoroughly established” (in Thomson 1922), and records from Westland and between Wellington and Whanganui “within last few years” (Thomson 1926). No further records. Subspecies not known.
Note: many early records of linnets were probably misidentifications (e.g. account in Lamb 1964: 43–44).
Spinus spinus (Linnaeus)
Eurasian Siskin
Fringilla Spinus Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 181 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Hartert 1903, Vögel Pal. Fauna: 71).
Spinus spinus (Linnaeus); Koch 1816, Syst. Baierischen Zool. 1: 232.
Chrysomitris spinus (Linnaeus); A. Hamilton 1909, Hand-list Birds New Zealand: 18.
Carduelis spinus; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 173.
Carduelis spinus (Linnaeus); Paynter 1968, in Peters Check-list Birds World 14: 238.
Spinus spinus (Linnaeus); Zuccon, Prŷs-Jones, Rasmussen & Ericson 2012, Mol. Phyl. Evol. 62: 594.
Released in Wellington (1876) and in Canterbury (1879) without success (Thomson 1922), but it was apparently present south and west of New Plymouth c. 1919 (Thomson 1922, 1926). No further records.
EMBERIZIDAE
Emberiza hortulana Linnaeus
Ortolan Bunting
Emberiza hortulana Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 177 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Hartert 1903, Vögel Pal. Fauna: 165).
Emberiza hortulana; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 176.
Emberiza hortulana Linnaeus; Paynter 1970, in Peters Check-list Birds World 13: 14.
Released at Otaki (1885), successfully breeding in the following year and forming a small flock, but they ultimately failed to establish (Thomson 1922).
CARDINALIDAE
Piranga rubra (Linnaeus)
Summer Tanager
Fringilla rubra Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 181 – America, restricted to South Carolina (fide Storer 1970, in Peters Check-list Birds World 13: 306).
Pyranga [sic] rubra Wils. [sic]; Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 59.
Pyrangra [sic] Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 162.
Piranga rubra (Linnaeus); Storer 1970, in Peters Check-list Birds World 13: 306.
Released in Auckland in 1868 (F. Hutton 1871; Thomson 1922) and bred, becoming “not rare in the vicinity of the gardens”, but they ultimately failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies not known.
PYCNONOTIDAE
Pycnonotus cafer bengalensis Blyth
Indian Red-vented Bulbul
Pycnonotus bengalensis Blyth, 1845: Journ. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 14: 566 – Bengal.
Pycnonotus cafer; Turbott 1956, Notornis 6(7): 185. Not Turdus cafer Linnaeus, 1766.
Pycnonotus cafer bengalensis Blyth; Checklist Committee 1990, Checklist Birds N.Z.: 200.
Released in the eastern suburbs of Auckland in 1952, and bred successfully. Fifty birds were present by 1954, but they were exterminated by 1955 (Turbott 1956a). More recent reports to the present time suggest subsequent releases, but none has been viable (with several birds deliberately killed by authorities).
MUSCICAPIDAE
Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus)
Eurasian Robin
Motacilla Rubecula Linnaeus, 1758: Syst. Nat., 10th edition 1: 188 – Europe, restricted to Sweden (fide Ripley 1964, in Peters Check-list Birds World 10: 36).
Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus); Hutton 1871, Cat. Birds N.Z.: 56.
Erithacus rubeculus (Linnaeus); A. Hamilton 1909, Hand-list Birds New Zealand: 18. Unjustified emendation.
Erithacus rubecula; Thomson 1922, Naturalisation Animals Plants New Zealand: 147.
Released at Nelson (before 1871; F. Hutton 1871), Auckland (1868, 1871–72), Canterbury (1879), Wellington (1883), and Otago (1885–86) (Thomson 1922). Indications of survival in Wellington (3 years) and in Otago (6 years). Some may have bred successfully but they ultimately failed to establish (Thomson 1922). Subspecies probably E. r. melophilus from the British Isles (Checklist Committee 2010).