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Pukeko (Australasian Swamphen)

Porphyrio melanotus

Description:

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.

Habitat:

Seen in grassy swamp paddocks in rural New Zealand.

Notes:

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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MudWiggle
Spotted by
MudWiggle

West Coast, New Zealand

Spotted on Sep 18, 2015
Submitted on Sep 18, 2015

Spotted for Mission

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