South Island takahe or takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri) images and facts - this gallery includes stunning close-up stock photos of the takahe, also known as the notornis. The takahe is a flightless, colorful green and blue bird with a large red beak and red legs. It has an average length of 25 inches and an average height of 20 inches, and its weight ranges between 4 to 9.3 lbs. The takahe is a dark blue color on its head, neck, and underside, and an iridescent blue-green on its wings. Its...
more »South Island takahe or takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri) images and facts - this gallery includes stunning close-up stock photos of the takahe, also known as the notornis. The takahe is a flightless, colorful green and blue bird with a large red beak and red legs. It has an average length of 25 inches and an average height of 20 inches, and its weight ranges between 4 to 9.3 lbs. The takahe is a dark blue color on its head, neck, and underside, and an iridescent blue-green on its wings. Its back and inner wings are teal, and the underside of its tail is white. These colors greatly contrast with its bright red beak and scarlet legs. There are few differences between males and females, except that females are slightly smaller than males. The takahe is a noisy species of bird and is known to give at least two distinct whomp and clowp calls.
Conservation status: Endangered
Scientific Classification | Kingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Chordata > Class: Aves > Order: Gruiformes > Family: Rallidae > Genus: Porphyrio
Binominal name | Porphyrio hochstetteri
Thought to be extinct from over-hunting and the introduction of predators, a few pairs were discovered in the Murchison Mountains of South Island, New Zealand in 1948. Unfortunately, the population has not strongly recovered since then. The takahe finds protection in the Fiordland National Park, but their population was significantly reduced from 400 individuals to 182 individuals in 1982 due to competition with domestic deer within the park. The population is currently at 300 birds and grows by 10% every year. Small numbers have been successfully relocated to five offshore islands that are free of predators, where they can be viewed by the public. A year ago, 18 takahes were reintroduced into the Kahurangi National Park, about 100 years after their local extinction from that area.
The takahe originally occupied swamps, but habitat loss and swamplands being turned into farmland pushed the takahe into grasslands. The takahe currently occupies alpine meadows and eats a wide range of plants and insects, although a takahe has also once been observed eating a small duckling. The takahe is a monogamous animal and will usually remain with a partner for the rest of their life. During the breeding season, the takahe builds a nest on the ground under bushes and typically lays 1-2 eggs at a time, which are incubated by both the male and the female, as well as fed by both parents after hatching. Hatchlings are covered in black down and have brown legs and a dark bill, which turns red as they mature. The survival rate of hatchlings is between 73-90%, although in many harsh winters, only one chick will survive.
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