New Zealand Falcon
Falco novaeseelandiae
Silhouette: Shyamal · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderFalconiformes (Falcons and Caracaras)
- FamilyFalconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
- GenusFalco (Typical Falcons)
- SpeciesFalco novaeseelandiae (New Zealand Falcon)
About the New Zealand Falcon
The New Zealand falcon (Māori: kārearea, kārewarewa, or kāiaia; Falco novaeseelandiae) is New Zealand's only falcon, and one of only four living native and two endemic birds of prey. It is frequently mistaken for the larger and more common swamp harrier. It is the country's most threatened bird of prey, with only around 5000–15000 individuals remaining. Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System the falcon is stable at Threatened, with conservation research needed. The kārearea was voted Bird of the Year winner in the annual Forest & Bird competition in 2012 and again in 2025.
The New Zealand falcon was formally described in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with the falcons and eagles in the genus Falco and coined the binomial name Falco novaeseelandiae. Gmelin based his description on the "New-Zealand falcon" that had been described and illustrated in 1781 by the English ornithologist John Latham. Latham had examined specimens both in the British Museum and in the Leverian Museum.
Ornithologists variously described the New Zealand falcon as an aberrant hobby... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of New Zealand Falcon in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Tongariro National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Egmont National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 6 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 7 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a New Zealand Falcon in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Falcon sighting in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, based on 149 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see New Zealand Falcon in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for New Zealand Falcon in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park in our monthly data.