The South Island takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri) is a flightless swamphen indigenous to New Zealand and 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. The two takahē species are also known as notornis.

The flightless takahē (South Island takahē; Porphyrio hochstetteri), is the world’s largest living rail (a family of small-medium sized ground-dwelling birds with short wings, large feet and long toes). The North Island takahē (moho; P. mantelli) is unfortunately extinct.

Takahe appear to pair for life, usually lay only two eggs a year, and in the wild barely manage to bring up even a single chick. “Takahe evolved from a pukeko-like bird, and being able to watch the two co­exist has been a unique opportunity,” Steve …

takahe, (Porphyrio hochstetteri), rare flightless bird of New Zealand that was thought to have become extinct in the late 1800s but that was rediscovered in 1948 in several remote valleys on South Island.

Thought to be extinct not once but twice, the takahē's remarkable story of survival and rediscovery is a testament to the resilience of nature. Historic remains show that takahē were once widespread, living from sea level to the sub-alpine in areas of native grassland. There were two species of takahē in New Zealand.

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.

The South Island takahe is a rare relict of the flightless, vegetarian bird fauna which once ranged New Zealand. Four specimens were collected from Fiordland between 1849 and 1898, after which takahē were considered to be extinct until famously rediscovered in the Murchison Mountains, west of Lake Te Anau, in 1948.

Jan 5, 2012 · South Island takahē are the largest living rails in the world. (Ref. 1) The name is derived from Māori “ takahea “, which means “to stand up tall and stamp one’s feet on the ground”. (Ref. 2) These birds are very colorful. The plumage from the head to the breast is deep blue to peacock-blue. The wings and back are olive-green and blue.

The takahē is the largest living member of the rail family and the biggest flightless bird to survive in New Zealand. Takahē are found only in Aotearoa New Zealand. They belong to the Rallidae (rail) family of birds, as do their lookalike but lighter-built cousins, the pūkeko (Porphyrio porphyrio). New Zealand used to have two species of takahē.

The takahē is a large, flightless bird – the largest living rail bird in the world. Rails are a family of ground-living birds and live on every continent except Antarctica. Takahē are endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand, which means they naturally live here and nowhere else in the world.