The Purple Swamphen, in New Zealand, where it is known as the Pūkeko. Pūkeko is probably one of the most recognised native birds in New Zealand with its distinctive colourings and habit. It look very similar to takahe, although takahe are much heavier.
The colour red was associated with nobility and power by Māori so the Pūkeko was held in high esteem because of its red beak and legs.
The Rifleman or Tītipounamu is one of only two surviving species within the ancient endemic New Zealand wren family. It is New Zealand’s smallest endemic bird, with fully grown adults reaching around 8 cm, weigh around 6g to 7g.
Kōkako are endangered forest birds which are endemic to New Zealand. There are two sub-species of Kōkako, the North Island Kōkako and the South Island Kōkako. Kōkako declines were undoubtedly caused by forest clearance, and the introduction of predators.
In Māori myth, it was the Kōkako that gave Maui water as he fought the sun. The kōkako filled its wattles with water and brought it to Maui. His thirst quenched, Maui rewarded the kōkako by making its legs long and slender, enabling the bird to bound through the forest with ease in search of food.
The Saddlebacks or Tieke, its taxonomic family is also known as “wattlebirds”. All members of this family have coloured fleshy appendages on either side of the beak known as “wattles”. In the case of the saddlebacks, they are a vivid red in colour.
Tieke were once widespread throughout New Zealand’s mainland and island forests. Their decline began in the mid 19th century, both North Island saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater) and South Island saddleback (P. carunculatus) were close to extinction. The most endangered of the two species is the South Island saddleback, with only 650 birds in existence.
The North Island saddleback is now resident on nine large islands (7,000 ha) and is in a favourable position to survive. The South Island species is on 11 smaller islands (500 ha) and it needs translocating onto further predator-free islands if it is to recover.
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