- Conservation status
- Doing OK
Pūtangitangi are a colourful addition to the cities and countryside of Aotearoa. They’re common throughout the country and are also our largest duck species. You’ll usually see them as mating pairs, and you might even come across a whānau of pūtangitangi – the chicks have delightful stripey plumage. The parents will guard their young until they’re ready to fly.
Campaign Manager
Christian Cosgrove
Aotearoa's most underrated bird is campaigning again for the 4th year in a row, being one of the most interesting and colourful birds in New Zealand, but is often overlooked due to being common all across the country.
In fact, because it is such a colourful and unique bird for New Zealand, people often think that the pūtangitangi is an introduced bird, although it is a native bird only found in New Zealand.
However, over 30% of its population is killed due to duck hunting every year, something which unfortunately will not be changing anytime soon, due to the decline being nearly completely slowed by being some of the best parents in Aotearoa.
If you want to support Bird of the Year's biggest underduck, vote for the pūtangitangi.
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