Takahē

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South Island takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri)

The South Island takahē is a large, flightless bird from New Zealand and the biggest living member of the rail family. It is endangered and considered nationally vulnerable.

A remarkable story of survival
The bird was hunted by Māori and early European settlers and was thought extinct by the late 1800s. It was rediscovered in 1948 by Geoffrey Orbell in Fiordland’s Murchison Mountains. Since then, the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) has protected and helped recover the species, using island sanctuaries and a captive breeding program.

Where it lives and what it eats
Today the takahē mainly lives in alpine grasslands of the South Island, but it also uses nearby forest and scrub. It is sedentary and territorial, and it sometimes moves to lower areas in winter. It feeds on grasses, shoots, leaves and insects, with a fondness for certain tussock grasses.

How big it is
- Length: about 63 cm (25 inches)
- Weight: males around 2.7 kg, females around 2.3 kg
- Height: about 50 cm (20 inches)
- Lifespan: roughly 18 years in the wild, up to 22 in captivity

Appearance
Takahē plumage is dark-blue to navy-blue on the head and underside, with teal-green on the wings and olive-green at the tail. It has a bright scarlet facial shield, a marbled red beak, and red legs. It is a robust, stocky bird with strong legs and a large bill. Females look similar to males, but are often a bit smaller.

Breeding and young
Takahē mate for life. They nest under bushes and scrub, laying one to three buff eggs. Chicks grow quickly but survival can vary from place to place (roughly 25% to 80%).

Conservation today
- The population is about 500 birds (as of 2023) and growing, around 8% per year.
- They live on predator-free offshore islands such as Maud Island, Mana Island, Kapiti Island, Tiritiri Matangi Island and Motutapu Island, where they can be viewed by visitors.
- The DOC also keeps a captive breeding program at the Burwood Centre near Te Anau, and releases birds to the wild to boost populations.
- Deer in Fiordland were a major threat by competing for food, but deer control programs have helped habitat recover and breeding improve.
- Stoats and other predators are monitored to protect nests and chicks; some management actions include removing infertile eggs and rearing young in captivity when needed to give them a better start.

Taxonomy and history
The South Island takahē was once classified with fossil birds as Notornis hochstetteri and later as a subspecies of Porphyrio mantelli. Genetic studies show the North and South Island takahē are each other’s closest relatives and likely descended from a single ancestral lineage that reached New Zealand millions of years ago.

Public viewing and education
In addition to offshore islands, some birds can be seen in wildlife centers such as Te Anau and Pūkaha / Mount Bruce, helping people learn about this unique flightless bird and its recovery.