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Morepork

The Morepork is actually a kind of owl, and it was given its name because early settlers thought it was calling out "More pork!". The Maori name for this bird is Ruru.

Moreporks can fly so silently that you don't hear a sound. They hunt for small forest creatures like birds or mice at night, or dusk and dawn. They eat their food whole (bones, feathers and fur!) and later they cough up a pellet with all the undigested bits.

Their eyes are large and in the front of their head - this shows they are a hunter, and their eyesight is suited for night. If you are anywhere near bush at night, you might hear them calling to each other.