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Story: Birds of prey

Morepork and prey

Morepork and prey

Moreporks catch prey with their talons, and carry it in their bill. This male is bringing a fantail chick to his nest in a tree hollow. He will call the female out from the nest to take it. After eating some, she will tear the rest into small bites for their chicks.

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How to cite this page

Gerard Hutching, Birds of prey – Morepork: New Zealand’s native owl, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/9971/morepork-and-prey (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

June Allen
28 December 2013
Will someone please tell me if moreporks commonly eat cicadas? I can find no reference to suggest this, and yet I am surprised if they don't. I read that moreporks eat insects, and I know that cicadas 'sing' at night. So why is there no correlation, I wonder? I'd appreciate your input.