Brown teal

Found on the ponds around Mansion House Bay, Hokimai Bay and in the Bon Accord mangroves.

Story

Pāteke reappeared in Kawau's Hokimai Bay in 1992 as possum control took effect. In the Auckland region, Great Barrier numbers are falling but birds are spreading out from Tāwharanui, across the channel from Kawau.

Behaviour

Small, dark dabbling ducks with a white eye-ring. They are most active at dusk and after dark. Pairs hold year-round territories and gather in flocks in mid-summer.

There’s more about this bird on Kawau in the island’s history.