48 HOW TO IDENTIFY NEW ZEALAND BIRDS 
paddles. Swims with body almost submerged and head out 
of water. Haunts, open bays and off shore along coast. 
Clumsy on land; swim and dive well, underwater move- 
ments accompanied by upward stroke of the flipper. Small 
size compared with Southern species. Utters quacking sound 
when swimming. Song lke sobbing child uttered at night 
in nesting burrow. Sphenisciformes. 
18.5 in. Ka (Nestor meridionalis). Head grey mar- 
gined dusky brown, ear coverts orange, sometimes ring of. 
revalie yellowish red on back of neck. Upper parts brown, back 
part tinged red and yellow. Under parts dark red mar- 
gined black. Legs blackish grey. Flight direct, slow, and 
measured, at considerable height. Silent flight from bough 
to bough. Haunts wooded ranges. Movements sprightly, 
climbs with dexterity, will hop on ground unlike other 
parrots. Conspicuous plumage of under wing when flying. 
Cere very prominent. Semi-nocturnal. Noisy screams of 
“(Kaka-ka.’’ (Psittaci (sub-order).) “| pes eee ae 
Valls fre ! 
18.5 in. Long-tailed or Ashy-backed Shearwater (Thyel- 
lodroma or Be bullert). Forehead and crown brownish 
black. White below eye. Upper parts slaty grey, wings 
and tail brownish black. Under parts pure white. Legs 
inner margin yeilowish, toes webbed, outer margin black. 
Flight powerful, usually in semicircular sweeps, with very 
few wing strokes. Haunts, open seas off northern coasts of 
New Zealand. Found also in California, but breeding place 
recently discovered north of North Island on islands near 
coast. Occasionally in calm weather they rest on the water 
in flocks. In moderate winds they fly about singly. Dis- 
tinguishing feature black marking like W when wings 
extended. Long bill and dark wedge-shaped tail, contrasting 
with slate grey back. One of the commonest Petrels of 
North Auckland. Procellariiformes. 
18.75 in. M., 19.5 in. F. Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris). 
Bill ivory white, wattles rich orange. Upper parts black 
with green metallic gloss. Tail feathers white. Under 
parts black. Legs bluish grey. Flight poor, tail partially 
spread, the orange wattles compressed under jaw. Haunts, 
Ruahine and Rimutaka ranges, mountain ranges, and Fagus 
forest. Moves from bough to bough, very alert, easily 
attracted. Bright orange wattles on side of head, whistling 
note resembling name. Male bill much shorter than female. 
Larger than Blue-wattle Crow. Passeriformes. 
19 in, Black Oystercatcher (Hematopus unicolor). Head 
black, irides crimson. Upper parts brownish black glossed. 
Under parts blackish brown, occasionally white. Legs red. 
