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Youth > Creature Features > Pukeko
PukekoThe Pukeko, Porphyrio porphyrio, also called the Purple Swamphen, Purple Gallinule, is a large bird in the family Rallidae.
What countries are they found in?Their breeding habitat is usually warm reedbeds across southernmost Europe, Africa, tropical Asia, and Australasia. There are four subspecies, differing in the plumage colours. The races are; P. p. porhyrio in Europe, P. p. madagascariensis in Africa, P. p. poliocephalus, in tropical Asia and Australasia, and P. p. pulverulentis in the Philippines .
There is a similar but much smaller species in North America, the American Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica.
Where do they like to live?Pukekos usually like to live near wetlands, but are also found living and nesting in any dense vegetation in damp environments such as lakes or rivers.
What do they like to eat?They eat a wide variety of swamp and pasture vegetation but also insects, frogs, small birds and eggs. They also particularly like the tender shoots of reeds.
What does it look like?It has huge feet, ideal for clambering through reeds, bright plumage and a red bill. They walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes, which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. It has a very loud explosive call.
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How do they nest?They usually nest from August to March but will sometimes nest as late as April and it is not unusual to see small chicks late in Autumn. They nest in groups of birds rather than just as pairs, which means there would usually be two laying females and at least two males in one nesting territory and they all share the incubation of the eggs. Groups can also have non-breeding helpers, these would be offspring from previous broods that help in the feeding and caring for chicks. Being able to cooperate so well is partly why they have become such as populous species.
As they are a native bird, why can we hunt them in NZ?Pukeko are protected nationally, but can be shot for sport during the shooting season because their population has grown to the extent that it is necessary to keep their numbers down. They often carry out marauding excursions at night to eat potatoes, kumara and other vegetables as well as considerable amount of grass and clover, so farmers consider them a pest.
They are also a major predator of Brown Teal ducklings, so the Department of Conservation has begun to cull their population in certain areas such as Great Barrier Island. Controlling one native species for the benefit of another is a very difficult decision to take, but sometimes it is the only way to maintain the numbers needed for a particular species to survive. Though Harrier hawks often attack Pukekos while rats and stoats plunder their nests. Harriers are dealt with by the Pukekos gathering together and driving them away with much shrieking and carrying on.
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What do Maori say about the Pukeko arriving in NZ?
East Coast Maori assert that the Pukeko was introduced by theirancestors on the Horouta canoe which reached NZ about twenty fourgenerations ago, while the Aotea tribe of the West Coast say thePukeko, the Kiore and the Karaka tree were all introduced by theirancestors in a boat called the Aotea. |
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