Story: Land birds – overview

Takahē

Takahē

The takahē and the pūkeko or purple swamp hen are related. After the ancestors of takahē arrived in New Zealand, probably by flying from the west, their descendants became flightless over many thousands of years, evolving into the endemic takahē.

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Photograph by Penny Carnaby

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How to cite this page:

Kerry-Jayne Wilson, 'Land birds – overview - Flightless land birds', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/9890/takahe (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Kerry-Jayne Wilson, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 20 Apr 2015