It was described by Brian Marples in 1952 from fossil material (a left tarsometatarsus) collected near Duntroon, from the Kokoamu Greensand Formation, near the border between the Canterbury and Otago regions of the South Island.

Fossils found at the Hakataramea Valley may also be referrable to this species.

The genus name Duntroonornis means "Duntroon bird".

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