The threatened NZ native wood pigeon, or kereru, is one of the largest, extant pigeons in the world. It is our only native pigeon species and sadly, is considered threatened.

It is a challenge to get the sheen on the 'neck and head' feathers right as you need sunlight to strike the body. For a bird that lives in tree canopies this rarely occurs.

The trick here was to be at the same elevation as the bird for this shot when it was perched in full sun.