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Takahe

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Porphyrio hochstetteri

Range

They are found only in New Zealand.

Habitat

They live on mountain grasslands. In winters with heavy snow they will shelter in the forest below.

Body Traits

They are very large birds, reaching up to 20 inches tall and more than 6 pounds. They have green and blue feathers and a red patch on their head. They have a big, pink beak.

Habits

They do not fly. Introduced predators like cats and rats have brought the bird to the edge of extinction. They are extremely endangered.

Diet

They eat a kind of grass called snow tussock.

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Reproduction

They build a nest of grass under a tussock. The female lays 1-3 eggs. Both parents help warm (incubate) the eggs for the month until they hatch and then feed the chicks.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Porphyrio
Species: P. hochstetteri

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