Koekoeā
Long-tailed cuckoo
Eudynamys taitensis
Their Story
Koekoeā, or long-tailed cuckoo (Eudynamys taitensis), is a mysterious and seldom-seen forest bird native to Aotearoa. Mostly insectivorous, koekoeā can also be fierce predators, occasionally taking small vertebrates such as rifleman (tītipounamu, Acanthisitta chloris) nestlings.
They are difficult to observe closely, but in flight the long tail — almost equal in length to the body — makes them unmistakable. Their flight silhouette may resemble that of a falcon, but their harsh, piercing zzhweeep call sets them apart.
Koekoeā have one of the most remarkable life histories of any New Zealand bird. Along with their close relative, the pīpīwharauroa (shining cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidus), they are the only migratory forest birds in Aotearoa. Each year they undertake extraordinary trans-oceanic journeys, travelling up to 6,500 km to overwinter across an arc of Pacific islands stretching from Palau (Micronesia) in the west to Henderson Island (Pitcairn group) in the east — a range of more than 11,000 km.
They return to New Zealand in spring to breed from October, making koekoeā endemic breeders — unlike the shining cuckoo, which breeds elsewhere as well. Like other cuckoos, koekoeā are brood parasites: they lay a single egg in the nest of a host species such as pīpipi (brown creeper, Mohoua novaeseelandiae), pōpokotea (whitehead, Mohoua albicilla) in the North Island, or mōhua (Mohoua ochrocephala) in the South Island. The unsuspecting host then incubates the egg and raises the chick as its own.
Despite their striking migrations and fascinating breeding behaviour, koekoeā remain one of New Zealand’s least studied birds. Many aspects of their breeding ecology, including nest and chick development, are still poorly understood.
Koekoeā have never been recorded within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, but there has been at least one recent sighting in the wider Nelson area. Reintroducing threatened mōhua to the Sanctuary could one day create the opportunity for koekoeā to return as well.
Recent call-count data show a worrying decline, leading to their threat status being upgraded from “At Risk – Naturally Uncommon” to “Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable.” Their main threat is the decline of their host species — particularly mōhua, which once thrived throughout the South Island but now survive only in a few isolated populations.
Conservation Status
Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable
Numbers are declining, largely due to the loss of key host species such as mōhua.
Population
No precise population estimates exist. Still present across both main islands but at lower densities, particularly in areas where host species have declined.
Voice
A harsh, loud, and piercing zzhweeep call, often repeated and carrying over long distances.
Food
Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates, but will also take small vertebrates, including nestling rifleman.
Koekoeā are brown above with streaked underparts and a pale face. Their long tail — nearly as long as their body. Their loud, shrieking calls carry through native forests, during spring summer months.
Primarily insectivorous, koekoeā feed on large insects such as beetles, wētā, and caterpillars, and occasionally take small vertebrates, including nestlings and lizards.
Koekoeā are brood parasites, meaning they lay their eggs in the nests of pīpipi (brown creeper), pōpokotea (whitehead), and mōhua (yellowhead). The unsuspecting host incubates the egg and raises the chick as its own. Breeding occurs from October to March, after the birds return from their annual migration from the Pacific Islands.
Breeding only in Aotearoa, koekoeā migrate annually across the South Pacific, overwintering on islands from Palau to Henderson Island — a journey of up to 6,500 km each way.
Koekoeā are classified as Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable. The main threat is the decline of their host species, particularly mōhua, which was once abundant throughout the South Island but now survives in a few isolated populations.
Koekoeā have been seen and heard at the Sanctuary, however the absence of their hosts prohibits them from breeding here. The future reintroduction of mōhua and the recolonisation of pīpipi could allow them to increase at the Sanctuary.
🪶 koekoā were once sighted in large swarms, often hunting huge numbers of cicadas found in summer.
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🪶 Ngahere Neighbourhood: piriwai (spiny gilled mayfly)
Tiny, ancient, and found only in Aotearoa — the spiny gilled mayfly (Coloburiscus humeralis) spends up to four years underwater before living just a few days as an adult.
Piriwai can only survive in clean, fast-flowing streams. Its larvae cling to river rocks, filtering food from the water with tiny hair-like gills. They are an important sign of healthy freshwater ecosystems, so much so that this species gets a rating of 8-9 on the sensitivity/stream health rating. All native stream macroinvertebrates are ranked in terms of their sensitivity and used as a bioindicator of stream health.
The Sanctuary stream is a reference site for stream health and represents a `pure`, unadulterated site and thus is highly diverse in sensitive stream invertebrates.
📸 Photo: Taken by Henry Hart here at the Sanctuary
#NgahereNeighbourhood #BrookSanctuary #AotearoaNature #FreshwaterLife #NelsonTasman #Conservation #Piriwai
Feb 17
Their Raucous Call Returns: Kākā Set to Reclaim the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. 🦜
This March, we’re scheduled to welcome two male and one female kākā fledglings from the Dunedin Botanic Garden kākā breeding programme. There’s also the potential for a further four birds to arrive in May.
Kākā are unique to Aotearoa and are nationally vulnerable, with populations heavily impacted by introduced predators. Releasing them into a pest-free sanctuary with ideal habitat (old growth beech forest) gives them the best chance to thrive.
This release will build on years of species translocations as part of the Sanctuary’s ambitious ecosystem restoration efforts, including:
🏠 Kākāriki karaka in 2021
🏠 Powelliphanta hochstetteri consobrina (giant snails) in 2021
🏠 Tuatara in November 2024 and May 2025
🏠 Kiwi in May 2025
Over the coming weeks, our team will be busy planning and preparing for this important translocation. We’ll share more details on timing and what to expect closer to the date.
Thank you to our community of donors, volunteers, business supporters, and Sanctuary Members for continuing to back the Sanctuary — your support is vital to every species return. We can’t wait to celebrate this next milestone with you.
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #Kākā #ConservationNZ #NelsonNZ #PredatorFree #NativeWildlife #Biodiversity
Feb 10
Win prizes for your best summer photo at the Sanctuary 📸🏆☀️
This season, we want to see the Sanctuary through your lens — the bright light through the canopy, the textures of the forest floor, and the tiny details that make summer feel alive.
Enter our Summer Photography Competition (part of our Sanctuary Seasons series) and you could win:
🏆 Instant camera (Junior Photography winner)
🌙 Family ticket to a guided night tour
📰 Feature in our newsletter + social media
🖼️ Printed display at the Visitor Centre
📅 Entries close 28 February - Submit your entries via our website: Link in bio
Photo credit: Helen Power - Entry from the spring photography competition
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #SanctuarySeasons #Ngahere #NaturePhotography #NZWildlife #NelsonTasman #VisitNelson #NZHikes #EcoTourismNZ #ConservationStorytelling
Feb 4
Looking for a unique and memorable date night? 🌙🌲
This February, we’re introducing Date Me Darling — private, curated date nights inside the Sanctuary at dusk.
Three styled locations. One couple at a time. You’ll have a styled spot along the main loop track, locally sourced food and drinks, a few games to share, and time to slow down together as the forest shifts into evening.
Beech Glade: for when you want the world to fall away — deeply hidden, totally private, just you and the hush of the forest.
River: crystal clear water, canopy above, flickering lights — the kind of setup you usually only see on Instagram.
Meadow: open sky, long grass, and the forest standing quietly at the edges like it knows not to interrupt.
Bookings are open now (limited spaces in February only so don’t miss out!): Link in bio
#DateMeDarling #NelsonNZ #NelsonTasman #ThingsToDoNelson #DateNightIdeas #NatureLovers #SupportLocalNZ #ConservationNZ #BrookWaimāramaSanctuary
Feb 3
Two cute to be true?
Brook Waimārama Sanctuary and @savethekiwinz teams have been busy over the past few days tracking and recapturing kiwi to remove their transmitters. Thanks to a huge team effort, all ten males were recaptured within just three days.
Some nest burrows held a surprise or two — in several cases a female was present, and a couple even contained chicks. One burrow amazed us all, with not one but two adorable chicks 😍
All chicks are fully independent at this stage of the season, and after quick health checks and transmitter removal, all adult kiwi were safely returned to their burrows.
This special footage was captured by kiwi handler Tamsin from Save the Kiwi, who led the transmitter removal mahi.
We estimate the 20 females and 21 males released in May last year have already produced around 10–15 kiwi pukupuku (little spotted kiwi) chicks in their very first breeding season — a strong sign the habitat is just right.
With transmitters now removed from all ten males, the kiwi are completely free, with no further handling needed. Annual kiwi call counts by staff and volunteers will help track the growing population across our 690 ha, ring-fenced, pest-free sanctuary.
Credit: Video courtesy of Tamsin Ward-Smith, Save the Kiwi
Thanks to our partnership with @terunangaotoa Ngati Toa and Save the Kiwi
#kiwipukupuku #littlespottedkiwi #brookwaimaramasanctuary #nelson #thetopofthesouth #conservation #biodiversity #nativebirds #natureloversnz #newzealandwildlife #pestfree #ringfencedsanctuary #conservationinaction
Jan 29
🎻 45 min string quartet concert at Brook Waimārama Sanctuary
Come and hear a dynamic young string quartet perform a 45 min concert at Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. We welcome everyone to come along, and bring anyone you think might be curious to hear some classical music in a relaxed environment.
The @antipodes.quartet is part of the Fellowship Ensemble Programme, a joint venture between the @adamchambermusicfestival, @newzealandstringquartet and @chambermusicnz, as a career-development experience offered to four of this country’s most promising young string players.
The Antipodes Quartet are Eden Annesley (violin), Mana Waiariki (violin), Tal Amoore (viola) and Lavinnia Rae (cello).
On this occasion, Brook Waimārama Sanctuary are welcoming everyone at local prices: Adult $15, Child $9; Family $35 (on the door)
Find out more: (Link in bio)
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #NelsonNZ #Whakatū #WhatsonNelson #NelsonTasman #LiveMusicNZ #ChamberMusicNZ #StringQuartet #ClassicalMusicNZ #AdamChamberMusicFestival #NewZealandStringQuartet #ChamberMusicNewZealand #FamilyFriendly #NatureAndCulture #SupportLocalArts
Jan 27
