Pūtangitangi
Paradise Shelduck
Tadorna variegata
Their Story
Pūtangitangi, often known as paradise ducks, are in fact shelducks — pied waterfowl belonging to the genus Tadorna, which also includes species found across the world. Though shelducks occur in many regions, pūtangitangi are endemic to New Zealand. The only other shelduck seen here is the rare Australian visitor, the chestnut-breasted shelduck.
Commonly associated with open pastureland and wetlands, pūtangitangi graze on the seed heads of grasses, clover and grains, and feed on aquatic weeds, crustaceans and molluscs. They can also be seen within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary — swimming in the Brook Stream, flying across the valley, or even perching awkwardly high in the canopy, webbed feet and all.
They reach sexual maturity at two years of age. Females have white heads, while males have black. The male’s call is a deep zonk zonk; the female’s a higher-pitched zeek zeek. Pairs usually return to the same breeding territory each year. In August or September, females lay 5–15 eggs (typically 8–9) in a large nest of grass lined with down, concealed under logs or long grass — though some nests are built high in tree holes.
The female incubates the eggs for around 21–22 days, leaving briefly to feed several times a day. Both parents care for the ducklings and are fiercely protective, often feigning a broken wing to draw predators away. Ducklings fledge at about eight weeks, their plumage resembling adult males but with small white patches around the eyes and bill. In young females, these patches gradually expand to cover the head and neck. Offspring may remain with their parents for up to three months.
From December to February, pūtangitangi undergo their annual moult, during which they cannot fly. This makes them highly vulnerable to predation and hunting, so they congregate in large flocks around lakes, ponds and riverbeds for safety.
For Māori, pūtangitangi were a valued food source, harvested in large numbers during the moult. By the 19th century, their numbers had declined, but forest clearance ironically benefited the species by creating pastureland rich in grasses and clover. The introduction of hunting restrictions and the spread of farm ponds further helped their recovery. Today, pūtangitangi are once again common and widespread across New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Populations are stable and widespread across New Zealand.
Population
Common throughout New Zealand in farmland, wetlands, and river valleys. Regularly seen within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary.
Voice
Males give a deep zonk zonk call; females a higher-pitched zeek zeek.
Food
Feeds on grasses, clover, grains, aquatic weeds, crustaceans and molluscs.
Pūtangitangi are large shelducks with long necks and a strong, honking voice. Females have chestnut bodies and white heads, while males are darker with iridescent green-black plumage and chestnut flanks. Their sexual dimorphism makes them one of the easiest native waterfowl to identify. Both sexes emit distinct calls — the female’s sharp zeek-zeek and the male’s deeper zonk-zonk.
Highly vocal and territorial, pūtangitangi are almost always seen in pairs or family groups. They feed mainly on grasses, clover, and aquatic plants, but will also take grains, small crustaceans, and molluscs. Foraging usually occurs on land near water. During their annual moult (December–February), large flocks gather on lakes and riverbeds where they remain flightless for several weeks.
Pūtangitangi reach maturity at two years and typically return to the same nesting territory each year. From August or September, females lay 5–15 eggs (usually 8–9) in well-hidden nests beneath vegetation, logs, or occasionally in tree holes. The female incubates for about 30 days, leaving briefly to feed several times a day. Both parents fiercely defend ducklings, often performing “broken-wing” displays to distract predators. Young fledge at around eight weeks and may remain with their parents for up to three months before dispersing.
Endemic to New Zealand, pūtangitangi are widespread across both main islands and many offshore islands. They are most common around farmland, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands, but also frequent open forest clearings and river valleys. Within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, they are occasionally observed near the Brook Stream.
Once heavily hunted and affected by habitat loss, pūtangitangi populations declined in the 19th century. However, forest clearance created new feeding grounds, and hunting restrictions, along with increased farm ponds, led to their recovery. Today, they are classed as Not Threatened and are New Zealand’s most abundant endemic waterfowl.
While not common residents, pūtangitangi are occasional visitors to the Sanctuary. They often unsuccessfully nest along the stream or fenceline. They can counterintuitively be seen far into the forest, sometimes perched high up on a dead beech tree.
🪶 For Māori, pūtangitangi were a prized seasonal food source, traditionally harvested during the summer moult when the birds were flightless.
Our other residents
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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
