Pamela Moresby
The New Zealand Pukako is like a Swamp Hen in other countries. This is unique to New Zealand. It’s a wading bird. It’s not threatened.
It’s interesting to note that in a social group the eggs are laid in one nest and the Pukakos males and females share in raising the young Pukakos.
Pukakos are found throughout all New Zealand but more scarce in drier areas. It doesn’t mind pasture for farmland and often chews at the roots of grass. They are mainly vegetarian the eat the stems, leaves, roots and seeds of grasses.
#1 New Zealand Pukako in flax by the water
The Pukakos are found by vegetated Swamps, Streams or Lagoon and near pasture, they are often seen by the road side and drainage ditches.
Sometimes they are killed by cars and quite a few wander on the road and killed in a traffic accident.
Some people shot them, they are sometimes regarded as a garden pest as they will eat the vegetables in the garden. It's legal to shoot them. Their feathers are prized by Maoris for their cloaks.
#2 New Zealand Pukako
This is a close up photo that shoes the colouring of it's feather. It looks as though it's thinking about something, but it has an eye on me and the rest of it's surroundings.
It's legs and feet are orange. Females are smaller than males.Juvenilles are smaller and duller in colour than adults, the beak and legs change from black to red and orange in three months.
#3 New Zealand Pukako
This Pukako is busy on the run. I think it just wants to get away from people and is going to duck for cover somewhere.
Adult males have few natural predators. Juvenile birds are often targeted by Harrier Hawks, but adults will fight vigoursly to defend their young. They will give a loud screech if a Harrier Hawk is near by.
#4 New Zealand Pukakos
This pair is enjoying a quiet moment together at Western Springs, Central Auckland.
The animals these eat consists of Spiders, insects, and earthworms. There are also reports of them taking frogs, fish and nesting birds.
As they are mainly vegetarian the bill is usually used to rip up, dig and tear into plants while the foot is holding it into place.
#5 New Zealand Pukakos
#6 Pukako Flight.
#7 Pukako Chick
This young one is not far from an adult Pukako, it it wondering away from people in Western springs and obviously picking at the grass as it goes. You notice it's feathers are dull and the beak is black.
The Adult Pukakos will defend their young fiercely. I have often seen an Adult face me when there are young nearby to try and keep me away from the young chick.
#8
The young one is on the run doing what the parent didn't have to tell it to do. It's ducking for cover. Although the Pukakos are used to people in Western Springs Park, they are wary of people. Rightly so.
Large numbers of Pukakos can cause damage to pasture land because they also eat the roots of the grass.
#9
This Pukako is in a flap and for some reason running into flight. It does this because it is instinctive. I wasn't that close to it. The image got blurred by the action.
They generally don't fly with people around them but they can fly for long distances.
I wouldn't recommend a Pukako to eat. It's tough and very string. Like trying to eat leather. Dad shot a Pukako a long time ago at my sister's place in the country.
Wish he didn't.
