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
Photograph 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.
Tāpiritia te tākupu hou