Kōtare
Sacred Kingfisher
Todiramphus sanctus vagans
Their Story
There are five recognised subspecies of Todiramphus sanctus distributed across Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, Kermadec Islands, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and the Loyalty Islands. The subspecies Todiramphus sanctus vagans is native to and widespread across New Zealand, including Raoul Island (the largest of the Kermadec Islands) and Lord Howe Island.
Although frequently found near both coastal and freshwater habitats, kōtare also inhabit open country and forest. They are often seen perched on treetops, posts or power lines, scanning for prey before diving. The name kōtare reflects this behaviour — kō meaning “to descend from a tree,” and tare referring to a stage or platform in the fence of a pā.
Kōtare hunt both aquatic and terrestrial prey, including insects, spiders, freshwater crayfish, crabs, fish, tadpoles, lizards, mice and even small birds. In winter, inland kōtare may move towards the coast in search of more abundant food.
They are monogamous, breeding from September onwards. Pairs nest in holes excavated in clay banks or rotting tree trunks. To create the nest cavity, the birds fly directly at the surface with necks outstretched, striking it with their bills until a hole large enough for purchase is formed, then continue chiselling to make a tunnel leading to a spherical nesting chamber. These holes may be reused year after year and are seldom lined.
Each clutch contains 4–7 eggs. Both parents share incubation and feeding duties, though the female does most of the brooding. Chicks can feed themselves seven to ten days after fledging, and pairs often raise two clutches per season.
With its abundant waterways and plentiful prey, the beautiful kōtare thrives within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. Listen for their distinctive, staccato kee-kee-kee call echoing through the valley.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Widespread and stable throughout New Zealand.
Population
Common across New Zealand, from coastal areas to inland forests and open countryside. Regularly observed within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary.
Voice
A loud, sharp, staccato kee-kee-kee, often repeated when alarmed or during flight.
Food
Feeds on insects, spiders, freshwater crayfish, crabs, fish, tadpoles, lizards, mice and small birds.
Kōtare are medium-sized birds with bright metallic-blue upperparts, buff-white underparts, and a broad dark eye-stripe extending from bill to nape. Their stout, dagger-like bill is perfectly adapted for hunting. Males and females are similar in appearance, though females may have slightly duller colouring. In flight, their blue-green plumage flashes vividly in sunlight.
Highly adaptable and opportunistic hunters, kōtare feed on both aquatic and terrestrial prey. Their diet includes insects, spiders, freshwater crayfish, crabs, fish, tadpoles, lizards, mice, and occasionally small birds. They hunt from a perch, watching intently before diving or swooping to catch prey. During winter, many inland kōtare move to coastal areas in search of food.
Breeding begins around October. Monogamous pairs excavate nest holes in clay banks or rotting trees by striking the surface repeatedly with their bills to create tunnels leading to spherical chambers. Each clutch contains three to seven eggs, incubated and fed by both parents, though the female performs most brooding. Chicks feed themselves within about a week of fledging. Nests are frequently reused across years.
The New Zealand subspecies Todiramphus sanctus vagans is found throughout the country, including Raoul Island and Lord Howe Island. Kōtare inhabit a range of environments — forest edges, open countryside, riverbanks, and coastlines. Within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, they are commonly seen along streams and forest margins, where ample perches and prey make for perfect hunting grounds.
Kōtare are currently listed as Not Threatened and remain common across much of New Zealand. Kōtare have likely expanded their range since the massive deforestation of Aotearoa, opening up hunting grounds for this species to the detriment of others. This species can be affected by pollution of waterways, and competition for nesting sites by starlings and sparrows.
The Sanctuary’s forest streams, open glades, and natural banks provide abundant nesting and feeding sites for kōtare. Their presence — a flash of blue above the water — adds to the Sanctuary’s vibrant biodiversity and offers visitors a glimpse of one of Aotearoa’s most adaptable native species.
🪶 The name kōtare means “to descend from a tree” — describing their classic hunting behaviour of dropping from a perch to strike their prey.
Our other residents
Check out some of the other incredible wildlife that call the Sanctuary home
Follow us on Instagram
@brooksanctuary
Share your photos with #brooksanctuary
🪶 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
