The Quaternary terrestrial faunas, primarily birds, of three inland di
stricts in Otago, South Island, New Zealand are described. The three a
reas (North Otago, Central Otago and near Wanaka) differ in their pres
ent topography and climate, and their palaeofaunas are also different:
that of North Otago is considerably more diverse than either of the o
thers. The differences are related to habitat diversity and climate. I
n Otago, 62 native species of birds, plus greater and lesser short-tai
led bats Mystacina spp., tuatara Sphenodon, Duvaucel's gecko Hoplodact
ylus duvaucelii, common gecko H. maculatus, and indeterminate skinks O
ligosoma spp, are recorded from fossil deposits. Most deposits are of
Holocene age. Swamp-miring, predation by laughing owls and falcons, an
d pitfall processes were responsible for accumulating the fossils. The
holotype of Ocydromus insignis Forbes is identified, and the species
synonymised with Gallirallus australis Sparrman.