Arthur's Pass National Park

🇳🇿 New Zealand

🐦 Bellbird Chorus Over the Alpine Pass
🌍 #271 Global · 2.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #20 in Oceania #56 in Savanna & Grassland
New Zealand, New Zealand 192 spp. recorded

Arthur's Pass National Park sits in the heart of New Zealand's rugged Southern Alps, protecting a dramatic landscape of steep mountain passes, rocky riverbeds, and high-altitude grassland. This alpine terrain differs from coastal reserves through its harsh weather and dramatic elevation changes, creating an exposed, windswept environment shaped by jagged peaks and sweeping valleys rather than dense lowland forest.

-42.859° S   171.821° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare 5–15%
With luck 15–40%
Possible 40–70%
Likely >70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Kea ★
EN Endemic

Kea

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nestor notabilis

60–70% · Likely
South Island Robin ★
LC Endemic

South Island Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petroica australis

70–80% · Very likely
New Zealand Fantail ★
LC Endemic

New Zealand Fantail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhipidura fuliginosa

70–80% · Very likely
New Zealand Bellbird ★
LC Endemic

New Zealand Bellbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthornis melanura

90–100% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Miromiro
LC Endemic

Miromiro

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petroica macrocephala

80–90% · Very likely
Chaffinch
LC

Chaffinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fringilla coelebs

80–90% · Very likely
Grey Warbler
LC Endemic

Grey Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gerygone igata

80–90% · Very likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

70–80% · Very likely
Silvereye
LC Endemic

Silvereye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zosterops lateralis

60–70% · Likely
Rifleman
LC Endemic

Rifleman

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthisitta chloris

60–70% · Likely
Song Thrush
LC

Song Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus philomelos

50–60% · Likely
Common Redpoll
LC

Common Redpoll

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthis flammea

50–60% · Likely
Welcome Swallow
LC

Welcome Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo neoxena

50–60% · Likely
Dunnock
LC

Dunnock

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Prunella modularis

50–60% · Likely
Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

40–50% · Likely
Common Brushtail
LC Endemic

Common Brushtail

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Trichosurus vulpecula

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common Brushtail
LC Endemic

Common Brushtail

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Trichosurus vulpecula

30–40% · Possible
Brown Hare
LC

Brown Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus europaeus

20–30% · Possible
Red Deer
LC

Red Deer

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

10–20% · Possible
Northern Chamois
LC

Northern Chamois

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rupicapra rupicapra

10–20% · With luck
Common Hedgehog
NT

Common Hedgehog

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Erinaceus europaeus

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Kea ★
EN Endemic

Kea

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nestor notabilis

60–70% · Likely
South Island Robin ★
LC Endemic

South Island Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petroica australis

70–80% · Very likely
New Zealand Fantail ★
LC Endemic

New Zealand Fantail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhipidura fuliginosa

70–80% · Very likely
New Zealand Bellbird ★
LC Endemic

New Zealand Bellbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthornis melanura

90–100% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Miromiro
LC Endemic

Miromiro

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petroica macrocephala

80–90% · Very likely
Chaffinch
LC

Chaffinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fringilla coelebs

80–90% · Very likely
Grey Warbler
LC Endemic

Grey Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gerygone igata

80–90% · Very likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

70–80% · Very likely
Silvereye
LC Endemic

Silvereye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zosterops lateralis

60–70% · Likely
Rifleman
LC Endemic

Rifleman

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthisitta chloris

60–70% · Likely
Song Thrush
LC

Song Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus philomelos

50–60% · Likely
Common Redpoll
LC

Common Redpoll

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthis flammea

50–60% · Likely
Welcome Swallow
LC

Welcome Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo neoxena

50–60% · Likely
Dunnock
LC

Dunnock

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Prunella modularis

50–60% · Likely
Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

40–50% · Likely
Australian Magpie
LC

Australian Magpie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gymnorhina tibicen

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common New Zealand Skink
LC Endemic

Common New Zealand Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Oligosoma polychroma

20–30% · Possible
McCann’s Skink
LC Endemic

McCann’s Skink

Reptile

Oligosoma maccanni

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Animal Events

🦎

Alpine Skink Activity in Meadow

OctNov

Common New Zealand Skink emerges to bask and forage as alpine grasses bloom, showing heightened activity.

Common New Zealand Skink
LC Endemic

Common New Zealand Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Oligosoma polychroma

20–30% · Possible
🐦

South Island Robin Territory Songs

Feb

Males establish territories with melodic songs and defend nesting sites in the forest understory.

South Island Robin
LC Endemic

South Island Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petroica australis

70–80% · Very likely
🐦

Kea Breeding and Playful Displays

NovDec

During late spring, kea engage in elaborate courtship, building nests in alpine scree and performing playful aerial antics.

Kea
EN Endemic

Kea

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nestor notabilis

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
Kea
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
South Island Robin
70–80
90–100
80–90
70–80
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
New Zealand Fantail
60–70
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
40–50
60–70
80–90
New Zealand Bellbird
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
Miromiro
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
Chaffinch
80–90
70–80
70–80
90–100
60–70
80–90
70–80
90–100
80–90
90–100
80–90
90–100
Grey Warbler
80–90
90–100
80–90
70–80
70–80
90–100
70–80
90–100
70–80
80–90
80–90
90–100
Eurasian Blackbird
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
90–100
Silvereye
70–80
90–100
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
80–90
Rifleman
70–80
60–70
80–90
60–70
50–60
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
50–60
70–80
Song Thrush
60–70
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
40–50
70–80
60–70
70–80
Common Redpoll
60–70
60–70
50–60
30–40
20–30
40–50
50–60
40–50
30–40
40–50
70–80
60–70
Welcome Swallow
40–50
60–70
30–40
30–40
20–30
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
30–40
60–70
70–80
Dunnock
40–50
20–30
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
Dominican Gull
60–70
40–50
20–30
10–20
30–40
30–40
30–40
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
60–70
Common Brushtail
20–30
20–30
30–40
30–40
50–60
30–40
50–60
10–20
30–40
50–60
0–10
20–30
Animal Events
🦎 Alpine Skink Activity in Meadow
🐦 South Island Robin Territory Songs
🐦 Kea Breeding and Playful Displays

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Moderate
🐦 Bellbird Chorus Over the Alpine Pass

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
2.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
167
🐒 Mammals
15
🦎 Reptiles
8
🐸 Amphibians
2
192 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
32 Threatened 57 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
73%
📊
Coverage (48 species at ≥5% of 192 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
25%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (12 bird)
47% Global avg
0%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
132 Global avg
39
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
14 Global avg
4
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
15
⚖️

Arthur's Pass or ?

Compare species and sighting probabilities

Compare parks

Explore Other Parks

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 📍 150 km 🐐 Chamois Echoes Across Aoraki Peaks

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

🇳🇿 New Zealand 🌍 #278 Global · 2.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #24 in Oceania #57 in Savanna & Grassland
Abel Tasman National Park 📍 237 km 🦭 Fur Seals Basking on Golden Sand

Abel Tasman National Park

🇳🇿 New Zealand 🌍 #276 Global · 2.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #22 in Oceania #64 in Temperate Forest
Fiordland National Park 📍 476 km 🦜 Kea Calls Above the Fiords

Fiordland National Park

🇳🇿 New Zealand 🌍 #273 Global · 2.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #21 in Oceania #62 in Temperate Forest
Tongariro National Park 📍 519 km 🐦 Fantails Flit Across Volcanic Tussock

Tongariro National Park

🇳🇿 New Zealand 🌍 #277 Global · 2.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #23 in Oceania #65 in Temperate Forest