Kotare hunting birds

chris · Post by **chris** » Mon Jan 19, 2026 5:40 pm

I'm near the Avon heathcote estuary. Overlooking it. So kotare are hear most of the time. But 2day I saw something new. A pair of kotare hunting tauhou. Successfully.. once caught dispatched the same way they dispatch lizards. Bashing it into the power line it was on. I had no idea they hunted small birds. I've seen w.f. herons hunting small birds and mice but they re large birds. Be a he'll of a mouthful for a kingfisher.

RichardLitt · Post by **RichardLitt** » Mon Jan 19, 2026 6:37 pm

Never heard of that. Cool. I found this video of a kōtare shaking a tauhou, post-hunt:

bdarlow · Post by **bdarlow** » Tue Jan 20, 2026 11:11 am

We have a sugar water feeder in winter, favoured by silvereyes, and sometimes raided by kotare. Our garden is in Heathcote, as it happens.

: (882.39 KiB) Viewed 581 times

Brian

Jan · Post by **Jan** » Tue Jan 20, 2026 3:30 pm

The spelling needs attention.
Yes, this well known but a bit unpleasant to witness. More so for the victim of course.
Our 'kingfisher' should really be called a 'kinghunter' as it behaves in a similar way to other Australian kingfishers, like kookaburra, that feed on lizards, arthropods and hardly ever fish.

wazzagonewild · Post by **wazzagonewild** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 11:48 am

I've seen one with a mouse before - quite the mouthful!

chris · Post by **chris** » Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:39 pm

Not a spelling mistake but a fat finger and no glasses on. I'm not new to te reo. ANYWAY!.
What a great photo. Thanks for sharing.

Kotare hunting birds

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Re: Kotate hunting birds