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Kōrero: Wetland birds

Kingfisher with lizard

Image
Kingfisher with lizard

Farmer and naturalist Herbert Guthrie-Smith took this photo of a kingfisher with a lizard in its bill, probably in the early 20th century. Kingfishers’ diet saved them from being eaten by many Māori – geckos were feared, and a person eating a kingfisher might be indirectly consuming a gecko.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: A.001985

by William Herbert Guthrie-Smith

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Christina Troup, Wetland birds – Kingfishers and fernbirds – wetland margins, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/14666/kingfisher-with-lizard (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Christina Troup, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.