The New Zealand Pukeko.
It's scientific name is Porphyrio Porphyrio Melanous.Meaning 'purple purple black' but it is more blue than purle.
If you ask any visitor to New Zealand what bird they remember most
will be more than sure that their answer will be 'The Pukeko'!
Defence and Behavior:
It is a tough bird and seems very capable of fighting off attacks. The predators (mammals) arrived with humans over the past few hundred years. Strangely, Pukeko have thrived in an environment where the introduced predators such as cats, rats and stoats, are present (Brunin and Jamieson, 1995). They have been known to group together and shriek loudly to successfully defend nests during attacks by harrier hawks. They can often be heard in the night protecting their nests. They do not always overcome these predators and sometimes abandon the nest site. Pukeko live in groups of 3-12 indiviuals.
