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Porphyrio melanotus
A large bird, would stand 40-50cm high, deep blue to black plummage with a large red beak and red patch on the head above the beak. Legs are red.
Seen in grassy swamp paddocks in rural New Zealand.
Considered flightless but if inclined they can actually fly quite far, normally they need to start from a height, but if chased by predators or scared they can launch themselves into flight and manage a few hundred metres. They are often seen clambering around in the top of trees as well as their preferred swampy foraging grounds.
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