Whoever coined the phrase “to eat like a bird”, was definitely not picturing New Zealand’s native birds at the time. Our colourful avian compatriots evolved on isolated islands that separated from other land masses around 80 million years ago, with no land-dwelling mammals alongside them. That explains why they’re bulkier than most birds, objectively rather strange-looking, and boast an impressively broad appetite.
Writing for The Guardian in 2023, journalist Tess McClure described New Zealand as having an “internationally unusual focus and dedication to its winged creatures.” How could we not? The puffed up tuxedo chest of the kererū, the crystal ring of a bellbird cutting through the morning, and the flick of a pīwakawaka approaching are all sights and sounds that are now symbolic of our shared national identity. Show us another country that gets as big a voter turnout for a Bird of the Year competition!
Despite this intense “focus and dedication” to our native birds, many New Zealanders are still at a loss when it comes to describing what exactly they eat, and how best to support them at home.
Berries, foliage, insects, nectar – or all of the above?
Different bird species have specialised diets based on what they evolved to forage for in the wild. Our famous kākāpō – ‘night parrot’ in te reo Māori – is entirely herbivorous, emerging at night to eat green shoots, leaf buds, rhizomes and tubers of native plants as well as seeds, fruits, pollen, moss and fungi.
On the other hand, the kākā, our largest and squawkiest forest parrot, is a little more liberal with its food choices, seeking out seeds, fruit and nectar, but also sap, honeydew and tree-dwelling invertebrates. Different needs mean different feeds but in general, the native birds most likely to visit your garden are searching for foliage, berries, nectar and insects.
So no seed-based bird feed then?
No, absolutely not. Topflite’s seed-based wild bird products are intended for introduced species such as finches, yellowhammers and sparrows. (And keep the bread crusts for croutons. Bread is no good for birds of any species!)
Native birds: What they eat, and what’s appropriate for supplementary feeding
Some native birds have adapted better to the introduction of mammalian predators, exotic tree species and growing urban environments than others.
That means the native birds you’re most likely to see in the garden are our more prolific species of bush and forest dwellers, particularly in autumn and winter when they’re travelling further for food.
Here’s who you might spot nearby, the natural food sources they’re hunting for and the most appropriate supplementary feed for each species.
Tūī
Nectar and honeydew make up the majority of the tūī’s diet year-round, with autumn triggering a search for fruiting natives, such as kaikomako and rimu. During the breeding season, tūī are also known to boost their protein intake with invertebrate snacks, such as cicada and stick insects.
Native plants for tūī: Tūi have a long brush-tipped tongue for lapping nectar from deep inside the base of native flowers. If you have space in the garden, plant kōwhai, harakeke, kotukutuku and makomako (wineberry) to attract tūī, or help out at a nearby native restoration project.
Supplementary food recommendations: Topflite Nectar is the best option for tūī because it’s formulated to mimic native flower nectar. It also contains a multi-vitamin for birds that’s a go-to bird specialists at New Zealand wildlife hospitals. Sugar water is also an option; use plain white sugar at a ratio of one cup to one litre of water. Research shows the feeder design is important so always use a clean feeder that is purpose-designed for native birds, rather than an open dish.
Korimako/bellbird
Like the tūī, korimako are a honey-eating species, on the lookout for nectar and honeydew. They get extra sustenance from fruit, and enjoy honeydew taken from insects on beech trees. Little insects and spiders found on trunks, leaves and branches are also on the menu.
Native plants for korimako: Bellbirds are nectar-sippers, like the tūī. In addition to the plants listed above, bellbirds are drawn to mānuka, kānuka and five finger. They love a tall tree to help their tune carry as far as possible, too.
Supplementary food recommendations: What the tūī feeds on, the bellbird does too. Fill a hygienic, purpose-designed nectar feeder with Topflite Nectar or sugar water and clean it regularly.
Kererū
This berry-loving pigeon is the only bird left in New Zealand with a beak large enough to swallow the seeds of some of our biggest native trees whole, making them an important pollinator. Think forest giants like tawa, taraire, miro and karaka. But they’re not fussy! The kererū has been found to spread seeds from over 70 native plants far and wide, including some introduced species like elderberry, plum and tree lucerne.
Native plants for kererū: They’re big on berries and juicy green shoots. If you have the space, plant makomako/wineberry, putaputawētā, kotukutuku, tī kouka (cabbage tree) five finger, karaka and kōwhai. For more ideas, Kererū Discovery has an extensive list of kererū-friendly plants.
Supplementary food: n/a. The kererū won’t visit a feeder – it’s all about the shoots and berries for these hefty birds. And the more awkwardly thin the perch to eat them from, the better!
Pīwakawaka/fantail
Despite its diminutive size, the pīwakawaka is a ruthless hunter. In the garden they are a highly effective predator, chasing a diet consisting almost entirely of small flies, moths, beetles, spiders and the occasional wasp. That famous tail fans open suddenly to startle insects into movement, making them easier to catch.
Native plants for the fantail: Anything that attracts native insects. They love flitting around the flowers of the tī kouka (cabbage tree) in search of moths. The same goes for Olearia species, hebes, Coprosma species and pittosporums. Other common native birds on the hunt for the small insects that live on these plants are the grey warbler and kotare/kingfisher.
Supplementary food: n/a. Fantails feed on live, fluttering insects so while you might see them near a feeder, they won’t be eating from it. A bird bath or sprinkler is a really useful garden addition for these wee beauties.
Tauhou/silvereye
These little green beauties show up all over the country in autumn and winter, travelling in boisterous flocks, often with other small passerines. As omnivorous feeders, the right garden offers up a veritable buffet for them. Spot them nibbling up small insects, fruits and berries, as well as drinking nectar and honeydew.
Native plants for the tauhou: Choose Olearia species, five finger, Coprosma species, hebes, Pittosporum species, tī kouka (cabbage tree) and kōwhai.
Supplementary food: If you have silvereyes in the neighbourhood, it’s a good idea to serve a range of foods in the feeder. Topflite Nectar (from a purpose-designed nectar feeder) is popular, as is Energy Food in any form – Truffles, Cakes or Pellets. The Topflite Energy Food recipe provides a similar hit of protein and fat to the insects they hunt. They also eat cut fruit like apples, oranges or bananas. Often a flock of small tauhou will alert the larger nectar sippers (tūī and bellbirds) to a food source.
How else can I use my garden to help native birds?
To attract the broadest number of native birds, the very best thing to do is plant native shrubs as long-term food sources. They provide foliage, berries, nectar as food, and habitat for invertebrates which in turn become food for insectivorous and omnivorous birds – not to mention shelter for nest-building.
Choose a range of species that flower at different times to create year-round options for native birds.
And if you’re not able to plant in your own garden, consider finding a restoration project nearby. There are many volunteers helping to grow ecological corridors throughout the country.
Another way to create insect habitat for smaller birds to hunt, is to keep things a little untidy. Leave piles of leaf litter around, use log stacks to separate garden spaces or make your own insect hotel.
Providing a clean source of water is also a highly underutilised way of supporting native birds all year round. Important not just for hydration but also for cleaning feathers, a bird bath can be a big help to native birds of all species but particularly the smaller ones.
About those land-dwelling mammals…
There’s no putting it softly. Our native birds are fighting for their lives out there.
It’s thanks to their isolation from mammalian predators that we have such weird and wonderful birds fossicking on forest floors, skirting wetlands and flitting through shrublands in this country. But it also means they evolved with no natural defences against mammalian predators. The introduction of rats, ferrets, stoats, weasels, possums, hedgehogs and cats has decimated populations of native birds.
One of the very first things you should consider before feeding birds, is how you can support the Predator Free New Zealand campaign. Join your local trapping group, browse the range at Goodnature and set up your own trapline or support the effort in whichever way you can.
Tūī image: Rebecca McDaid, Korimako image: Steve Howard, Kererū image: Anna Sephton, Pīwakawaka image: Tony Smith, Tauhou image: Laura Faulkner
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