There are many reasons why the birds of New Zealand are remarkable and special. A lot of it has to do with the lack of that power that makes a bird a bird – the ability to fly.

Flightlessness is only one characteristic contributing to the uniqueness of our birds. Many New Zealand birds are also very long-lived, and have slow breeding rates, as well as small clutch sizes and large eggs. Several species are nocturnal, and others have a large body size. All these features have contributed to their extinction or decline.