Download The Takahe

Takahe Fact Sheet
Name: Notornis mantelli
This name was changed after it was recognised as the same grouping as the Pukeko. It is now
Porphyrio mantelli hochstetteri.
Habitat
 Once found all over NZ but now it is only found in the remote Murchison Mountains.
Some relocated Takahe can be found on Maud, Mana, Kapiti and Tiritiri Matangi islands.
Adaptations
Large flightless bird. May have evolved like this in order to fill a niche that would have been
occupied by mammals
What does it eat?

Several species of tussock grasses. They eat the juicy part at the bottom of the blade
where the sugar and protein is found. Parents may feed their young invertebrates to give
them extra protein.
Predation

Stoats eat the Takahe eggs and chicks. DoC traps stoats during the nesting period to help
prevent Takahe chick deaths.
Competition


In the 1940’s-50’s Red Deer populations became established in the Murchison Mountains
which saw a reduction in Takahe numbers. Deer and stoats feed on the same tussock
grasses so this meant more competition for the Takahe.
Intensive hunting of deer began in 1976 and reduced the numbers of deer in the area.
Takahe numbers increased greatly.
Reproduction





Sexual maturity at 2 yrs old
Will normally mate with the same partner for life
Ground nest builders in low vegetation
Will lay 2 eggs (can be 1-3) between October and December. 30 days to hatch
Parents take turns incubating the eggs. High level of parental care is shown.
Interesting facts

Were present on the land mass Gondwana before it split up. The Takahe is closely related
to the Pukeko which is thought to have originated from Australia. It is very much like the
purple swamp hen – a common flightless bird found all over Australia. It is thought that
the swamp hens have colonised NZ at least 3 times producing 3 different species.