New Zealand Woodpigeon – Kererū

Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae

Kereru or Wood Pigeons are large, noisy birds often heard before they are seen

Kererū are the largest birds remaining in New Zealand forests. They are noisy flyers and once heard they are usually fairly easy to spot.

There are two types of Woodpigeon or Kererū in New Zealand;

•  The New Zealand Woodpigeon, Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae, found throughout most of the mainland, and
• The Chatham Island Woodpigeon, Hemiphaga chathamensis, found only on the Chatham Island group.

Both types are very similar but the Chatham Island Wood pigeon is slightly larger and
greyer.

Kererū in Northlands Tangihua Forest

New Zealand Woodpigeon or Kererū are often seen and heard in Northlands Tangihua Forest. Up until the 1970’s there would occasionally be flocks of up to 20 Kererū in the ranges feeding on the  abundance of fruit and flowers available. Sadly these large flocks are no longer around but there are still Kererū living in the forest and the surrounding farmland.

The photos  are Woody, a  Northland Kererū rescued as a juvenile during work on our conservation program. He was looked after by the Northland Bird Rescue and released at the Tangihua Lions Lodge where he is occasionally seen.

Kererū Physical Description

When looking for Kererū in dense forest the easiest bit to spot is their large white underbelly. The upper parts of the Kererū are a deep blue-green with a purple-bronze sheen on their necks. Their beaks, feet and eyes are red. Both males and females look the same.

Fledglings and juveniles have duller plumage and often the white chest is a smudgy white-grey. The demarcation between dark and white feathering is ragged and they may have a narrow border of cinnamon wash over the upper white feathers.

Kererū’s sounds and Call

The loudest noises made by the Kererū are the ‘swoosh, swoosh, swoosh’ of their wings as they work hard to keep their large bodies above the ground and the ‘thump’ and rustle of leaves as they almost crash-land into a tree. They are capable of making a soft ‘cooing’ noise, similar to doves and other pigeons, but this rarely heard.

Kereru Behaviour

Kererū tend to keep to themselves or remain in pairs although they will gather in flocks occasionally. They are territorial and if another Kererū intrudes they will communicate their displeasure by soaring upwards into the sky, stalling and plummeting back towards the ground.This behaviour is also done when showing off to attract a mate.

Kererū have been spotted taking a ‘bath’ in the rain. During light showers they will cling tightly to a branch and roll over, exposing their bellies to the rain.

Feeding

The Kererū’s favourite food is fruit and berries, which is why in urban areas they are often found feeding on guava’s and other introduced berries. In most regions fruit is not available all year round so they will also feed on flowers and leaves. Important leaf sources include those of Kowhai, tree lucerne, broom, willows, elms and poplars.  They will also eat macadamia nuts when the nuts are young.

Breeding habits

Kererū nest and breed in spring and early summer.  They create very simple unlined nests. You can often see the egg and nesting bird through the gaps in the nest.  They will continue to add twigs to the nest while incubating their egg.

Kererū only produce one egg and the parents take turnings looking after it during the 28 day incubation period.

When the Kererū chick first hatches it is fed on ‘pigeon milk’.  This is a protein-rich milky substance that comes from the parent’s crop, a muscular pouch in the neck that is part of the digestive system. This ‘pigeon milk’ is slowly substituted for fruit as the chick gets older.

Kererū chicks grow rapidly and are ready to leave the nest around 40 days after hatching.  At this point they are known as ‘fledglings’.  These fledglings spend about two weeks with their parents before becoming fully independent, although in some cases they will remain with their parents during autumn and winter.

When plenty of fruit is available some pairs of Kererū will have a large chick in one nest and be incubating an egg in another nest nearby.

Kererū Distribution and Habitat

Kererū are widespread throughout New Zealand and can be found in native forests and rural and urban habitats, including most cities. The few places they aren’t found are in areas like the dry tussock lands in Otago, high in the mountains or anywhere else that doesn’t have trees to provide the Kererū with food and shelter.

Kererū Role in the Forest

Kererū play a vital role in the forest. By eating and then excreting fruit they distribute seeds throughout the forest. Some seeds will only germinate once they have been through the digestive track of a Kererū hence many tree species, like Miro, Matai, Karaka, Tawa and Taraire are almost totally dependent on the Kererū for seed dispersal.

Kererū Significance to Māori

Kererū were a source of food and decorations for the Māori. Kererū would be speared or snared, the feathers used for cloaks and the birds eaten immediately or preserved in their own fat for future meals.

Threats and Conservation Plan

The Kererūs only surviving native predator is the New Zealand falcon.

The most serious threat to the Kererū comes from introduced predators. Recent studies in several parts of the country have found that many nests produce no chicks at all because rats, possums , mustelids and feral cats eat the eggs or the young bird.Kererū are particularly vulnerable to this type of predation because they only lay one egg at a time.

Possums also compete with adult Kererū for food (leaves, flowers, fruit) and destroy the trees Kererū rely on.

Stoats and cats will attack and kill adult Kererū. Forest clearance and poaching also threatens their survival.

One way to help the Kererū is to plant the trees that Kererū feed on. Tree lucerne is useful in the short-term as it flowers prolifically in winter and grows quickly. For a long-term solution, plant Miro, Tītoki, Tawa, Fuchsia, Kōwhai, Five-Finger, Pate, Pigeonwood, Taraire, Pūriri and Wineberry.

By controlling rats and possums, Kererū populations have been found to increase by as
much as 50% within two years.

The Tangihua forest block is managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). They currently do not have the funding available to put in place the strategies needed to eradicate pests and protect the forest.

The Tangihua Lions Lodge has set up the following programs that you can be a part of;

• Tangihua Community Pest Control Area: Targeting pests on farm land with local farmers and the Northland Regional Council.
• Conservation on DOC Land: Tangihua Lions Lodge Conservation and Education project Conservation Education: Creating a high quality, accessible educational center surrounded by a fully functional ecosystem for schools and any one else who may choose to use the facility.

Volunteers Options: How you can help protect our native bush.

It is very apparent that specific information has been shared online between many organisations. Attributing to the initial source is impossible. As much as possible we have used our own photo’s and the following websites have been used as sources for our information;

•  Te Ara The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand,
• Wikipedia,
• DOC website,
• T.E.R:R.A.I.N Taranaki Educational Resource: Research Analysis and Information Network, and
•  Readers Digest Complete Book of New Zealand Birds.