Habitat Occupation of Birds in a New Zealand High Country Drainage during the Breeding Season

Summary1. The distribution of twenty bird species during the breeding season was studied in relation to vegetation in the Tutaekuri drainage (Kaweka Range, North Island of New Zealand).2. In general, each species had a characteristic pattern of habitat occupation but differences and similarities between these showed no correlation with taxonomic relationship.3. The greatest numbers of birds and also of species were observed in the tallest vegetation, and the number tended to diminish with decrease in vegetation height.4. If the eight habitat classes are arranged in successional order from bare ground to beech forest, the following four patterns emerge:(a) increase in abundance with successional progress towards a forest (twelve species),(b) highest numbers reached before the forest climax (four species),(c) bimodal distribution (three species),(d) decrease in abundance as the succession proceeds (one species).5. There is a steady increase in both the number of birds and the number of species as the forest regenerates.6. The effect of altitude is briefly discussed and the maximum observed altitude of each species is given.7. The post-European introduction of several birds has resulted in the utilization of many previously unexploited ecological adaptations, and the importance of these birds to erosion control is mentioned.