Takahē
The South Island takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri) is a flightless swamphen. It is the largest living member of the rail family. It is often known by the abbreviated name takahē, which it shares with the recently extinct North Island takahē. Takahē were hunted extensively by Māori but were not named and described by Europeans until 1847, and then only from fossil bones. In 1850 a living bird was captured, and three more collected in the 19th century.
The South Island takahē is the largest living member of the family Rallidae. It is a stocky, powerful bird, with short strong legs and a massive bill that can deliver a painful bite to the unwary. Although a flightless bird, the takahē sometimes uses its reduced wings to help it clamber up slopes. The plumage, beaks, and legs of these birds show typical gallinule colors. Adult plumage is silky, iridescent, and mostly dark blue or navy blue on the head, neck, and underside, peacock blue on the wings. The back and inner wings are teal and green, becoming olive-green at the tail, which is white underneath. Takahē have a bright scarlet frontal shield and "carmine beaks marbled with shades of red". Their scarlet legs were described as "crayfish-red" by one of the early rediscoverers. Sexes are similar; the females are slightly smaller and may display frayed tail feathers when nesting. Chicks are covered with jet-black fluffy down when hatched, and have very large brown legs, with a dark white-tipped bill. Immature takahe have a duller version of adult coloring, with a dark bill that turns red as they mature.
South Island takahē are native to New Zealand. Although these birds are native to swamps, humans have turned their swampland habitats into farmland, and South Island takahē were forced to move upland into the alpine grasslands. They are sedentary and remain in the grassland until the arrival of snow when they descend to the forest or scrub. These birds are still present in the location where they were rediscovered in the Murchison Mountains. Small numbers have also been successfully translocated to five predator-free offshore islands, Tiritiri Matangi, Kapiti, Maud, Mana, and Motutapu, where they can be viewed by the public.
South Island takahē are diurnal birds. They are social birds but during the breeding season, they become territorial and will aggressively defend their nesting area. South Island takahē are noisy. They have a non-directional warning 'womph' call and a loud 'clowp' call. The contact call is easily confused with that of the weka (Gallirallus australis), but is generally more resonant and deeper.
These birds are herbivorous (graminivorous, folivorous). They eat predominantly leaves of Chionochloa tussocks and other alpine grass species. Their diet also includes grass, shoots, and some insects.
South Island takahē are monogamous. They form pairs that remain together from 12 years to, probably, their entire lives. These birds build a bulky nest under bushes and scrub. Females lay 1 to 3 buff eggs that hatch after about 30 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and become independent at the age of 3 months.
The main threats to this species include overhunting, loss of habitat, and introduced predators. The introduction of Red deer (Cervus elaphus) represent severe competition for food, while stoats (Mustela erminea) take a role as predators. The spread of the forests in the post-glacial Pleistocene-Holocene has contributed to the reduction of habitat. Since the species is long-lived, reproduces slowly, takes several years to reach maturity, and had a large range that has drastically contracted in comparatively few generations, inbreeding depression is a significant problem.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the South Island takahē is 418 individuals with approximately 130 breeding pairs. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are increasing.
