Ancient DNA from an extinct native duck reveals how far birds flew to make New Zealand home
- Written by: Nic Rawlence, Senior Lecturer in Ancient DNA, University of Otago
Auckland Island merganser. Artistic reconstruction by J. G. Keulemans from Bullers Birds of New Zealand (1888)Bullers Birds of New Zealand, Author providedAsk a bird lover if they have heard of the extinct giant moa or its ancient predator, Haast’s eagle, and the answer will likely be yes. The same can’t be said of New Zealand’s...