Facts about takahē
Takahē at Te Anau wildlife centre
Alpine grassland supplies its food and shelter such as broad-leaved snow tussock, mid-ribbed snow tussock and curled snow tussock.
In winter, if snow cover is heavy, birds descend into the forest for shelter and feed mainly on underground starchy rhizomes of the summer green fern.
After the snow clears in October, takahē often nest under the shelter of snow tussocks where each nesting pair builds up a raised bowl of grasses.
One to three eggs are laid, and of these 80% hatch.
The 30-day incubation period is shared by both parents who also feed the chicks for three months.
Usually, only one chick will survive its first winter.
A takahē looks similar to the common black and blue pukeko but is much larger and is green rather than black over the back.
An adult stands about 50 cm high and can weigh over 3 kg.
Takahē have lived over 20 years in captivity but in the wild few birds reach this age.
Wings are for display only - such as courtship and aggression.