Dunnock

Scarce this far north, but look in dense shrubs and along garden edges.

Story

Several hundred were released from 1867, partly in the hope that they would eat orchard insects. Dunnocks are common in the south but scarce from Waikato northwards and rare in Auckland.

Behaviour

A quiet, sparrow-like bird with a fine bill. It shuffles about under shrubs picking up insects and spiders, and its thin 'tseep' call is easy to overlook.