Australian coot - Fulica atra australis

Australian coots moved across the Tasman Sea in reasonably large numbers in the 1950s and began to breed in NZ - they are now widespread in both islands.

Latin name: Fulica atra australis

There was a NZ coot also, but this is now extinct.

They have a loud piercing call, and are very territorial.

This one was in hot pursuit of another coot which had strayed into the wrong territory. For the full chase sequence click here