Pateke (Brown Teal) (Anas chlorotis. Anatidae: Ducks, Geese and Swans) North Island, New Zealand
The Pateke (Brown Teal) is a rare duck endemic to New Zealand. Now found mainly on Islands off the north coast of the North Island. Populations on the mainland can only be maintained in areas with intensive predator control. A shy retiring bird, that is mostly nocturnal and spends a lot of its time foraging out of water on forests and undergrowth. Filmed here on Tiritiri Matangi island near Auckland where it has been introduced from nearby populations and is now breeding, as can be seen here.
Related to the Chestnut Teal of Australia, a bird that turns up in NZ from time to time , see Australian birds at vimeo.com/108095528