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Pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus)
Encyclopedia
Pūkeko is the common name, derived from the Māori language
, for the Purple Swamphen
(Porphyrio porphyrio) in New Zealand
. The subspecies occurring there is Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus, which is also found elsewhere in Australasia, including, in eastern Indonesia
, the Mollucas, Aru
and Kai Islands
, as well as in Papua New Guinea
and Australia
.
and Kermadec Islands
. The same subspecies, Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus, of the Purple Swamphen
is also found in mainland Australia, eastern Indonesia, the Mollucas, Aru and Kai Islands, as well as in Papua New Guinea.
occurrences are in sites younger than 400 years and there is no evidence that they were on the main islands of New Zealand before the Māori arrived (Worthy & Holdaway 1996). It may have been introduced by the ancestors of Māori. East Coast Māori say they were brought to New Zealand on the Harouta canoe which arrived about 24 generations ago. The Aotea tribe of the West Coast say the Pūkeko was introduced by their ancestors in a boat called the Aotea
.
In support of the belief that it is a good flyer, and may have self-introduced, a dead Pūkeko was found on L'Esperance Rock, a tiny, isolated rock in the Kermadec
group, more than 200 km from the nearest established population (Tennyson & Taylor 1989). This demonstrates the ability of swamphens to fly great distances over the sea.
This ability to disperse is not unique to swamphens, but is common to all continental Rallidae
, hence they are often found on remote islands.
, a flightless endemic bird of New Zealand has the Purple Swamphen as its closest relative, though its ancestor arrived in New Zealand, probably millions of years ago from Australia, long before the Purple Swamphen did. Takahē are approximately three times heavier than Pūkeko (to about 3 kg), having evolved in an environment free from humans and ground predators. Introduced predators now threaten the Takahē with extinction.
s, rodent
s and mustelids (Brunin and Jamieson, 1995). They live in groups of 3–12 individuals and are known to group together and shriek loudly to defend nests successfully during attacks by Australasian Harrier
s. When unsuccessful at repelling predators they may abandon their nest sites.
By one account the Pukeko is the spawn of Punga
(the ancestor of sharks and reptiles - enemies of the people) but was claimed by relative (and high chief) Tawhaki
. Tawhaki cut himself while cutting timber and so daubed the Pukeko's forehead with his own blood to signify their bond. So the mischievous Pukeko gets his character from Punga and his noble badge from Tawhaki.
). They would choose a suitable place where Pūkeko were known to feed, and drive a series of stakes into the ground. These stakes were connected by a fine flax string. Hair-like nooses (made from cabbage tree fibre) were then dangled at the appropriate height, from the flax string, to catch Pūkeko as they fed after dusk, in the low light conditions.
) during the duck shooting season. Sometimes there is an extended season on the West Coast of the South Island. They are not generally hunted for food and most are left to rot after being killed. Conservationists argue that hunting is unnecessary and the birds do little harm, though some farmers argue otherwise. They were sometimes eaten by Maori but were considered poor food, being sinewy and tough.
Nesting, breeding and rearing are as for the general species, see Purple Swamphen
. In New Zealand they nest, typically well hidden in the middle of a clump of raupo
, between August (end of winter) and March (start of autumn). Most eggs are laid between August and February with breeding reaching a peak in spring between September and December.
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
, for the Purple Swamphen
Purple Swamphen
The Purple Swamphen , also known as the African Purple Swamphen, Purple Moorhen, Purple Gallinule, Pūkeko or Purple Coot, is a large bird in the family Rallidae . From its name in French, talève sultane, it is also known as the Sultana Bird...
(Porphyrio porphyrio) in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The subspecies occurring there is Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus, which is also found elsewhere in Australasia, including, in eastern Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, the Mollucas, Aru
Aru Islands
The Aru Islands are a group of about ninety-five low-lying islands in the Maluku province of eastern Indonesia. They also form a regency of Indonesia.-Geography:...
and Kai Islands
Kai Islands
The Kai Islands of Indonesia are in the south-eastern part of the Maluku Islands, in Maluku Province.-Geography:...
, as well as in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Distribution
Pūkeko are found on New Zealand's main islands and in the ChathamChatham Islands
The Chatham Islands are an archipelago and New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean consisting of about ten islands within a radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island. Their name in the indigenous language, Moriori, means Misty Sun...
and Kermadec Islands
Kermadec Islands
The Kermadec Islands are a subtropical island arc in the South Pacific Ocean northeast of New Zealand's North Island, and a similar distance southwest of Tonga...
. The same subspecies, Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus, of the Purple Swamphen
Purple Swamphen
The Purple Swamphen , also known as the African Purple Swamphen, Purple Moorhen, Purple Gallinule, Pūkeko or Purple Coot, is a large bird in the family Rallidae . From its name in French, talève sultane, it is also known as the Sultana Bird...
is also found in mainland Australia, eastern Indonesia, the Mollucas, Aru and Kai Islands, as well as in Papua New Guinea.
Establishment in New Zealand
According to the Heather and Robertson Field Guide, the bird seems to have become established in New Zealand about 1000 years ago. According to Millener (1981) it invaded from Australia less than 1,000 years ago. It is also assumed to have spread from Australia to New Guinea. Some assume that it became established before humans in New Zealand but all fossilFossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
occurrences are in sites younger than 400 years and there is no evidence that they were on the main islands of New Zealand before the Māori arrived (Worthy & Holdaway 1996). It may have been introduced by the ancestors of Māori. East Coast Māori say they were brought to New Zealand on the Harouta canoe which arrived about 24 generations ago. The Aotea tribe of the West Coast say the Pūkeko was introduced by their ancestors in a boat called the Aotea
Aotea (canoe)
In Māori tradition, Aotea is one of the canoes by which Māori migrated to New Zealand; it is particularly associated with the tribes of Taranaki and Whanganui, including Ngāti Ruanui and other tribal groups. Aotea was a double canoe built by Toto from half of a great tree from Hawaiki, the other...
.
Kermadec Islands
The Kermadec Islands are a subtropical island arc in the South Pacific Ocean northeast of New Zealand's North Island, and a similar distance southwest of Tonga...
group, more than 200 km from the nearest established population (Tennyson & Taylor 1989). This demonstrates the ability of swamphens to fly great distances over the sea.
This ability to disperse is not unique to swamphens, but is common to all continental Rallidae
Rallidae
The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small to medium-sized birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and the family also includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules...
, hence they are often found on remote islands.
Description
Pūkeko (along with green-yellow Swamphens in Tasmania) are possibly slightly larger than mainland Australian birds, but are otherwise identical. When threatened they will often walk away from danger rather than fly. When they fly, take-offs and landings are clumsy, and short flight distances are preferred.Takahē, a close relative
The TakahēTakahe
The Takahē or South Island Takahē, Porphyrio hochstetteri is a flightless bird indigenous to New Zealand and belonging to the rail family. It was thought to be extinct after the last four known specimens were taken in 1898...
, a flightless endemic bird of New Zealand has the Purple Swamphen as its closest relative, though its ancestor arrived in New Zealand, probably millions of years ago from Australia, long before the Purple Swamphen did. Takahē are approximately three times heavier than Pūkeko (to about 3 kg), having evolved in an environment free from humans and ground predators. Introduced predators now threaten the Takahē with extinction.
Defence and behaviour
As a recent arrival to New Zealand, Pūkeko have thrived in an environment that now contains introduced predators such as catCat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s, rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s and mustelids (Brunin and Jamieson, 1995). They live in groups of 3–12 individuals and are known to group together and shriek loudly to defend nests successfully during attacks by Australasian Harrier
Swamp Harrier
The Swamp Harrier also known as the Marsh Harrier, Australasian Harrier, Kāhu, Swamp-hawk or New Zealand Hawk is a large, slim bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.-Description:...
s. When unsuccessful at repelling predators they may abandon their nest sites.
In Māori culture
The colour red was associated with nobility and power by Māori so the Pūkeko was held in high esteem because of its red beak and legs.Māori metaphor
Pūkeko are known for their bold scheming and determination. In times past they raided gardens for kūmara (sweet potato) and taro. A stubborn, annoying person was compared metaphorically to the bird, and was said to have Pūkeko ears (taringa Pākura). They are known to steal eggs from each other and this is an indication of their character.Māori mythology
In New Zealand the Pūkeko is mentioned in the Māori myth 'How the Kiwi lost her wings' in which several birds of the forest are asked to come down from the trees to eat the bugs on the ground and save the forest, but all give excuses except the Kiwi who is willing to give up his colours and the ability to fly. The Pūkeko's excuse is that it looks too damp down there, and he does not want to get his feet wet. The Pūkeko is punished for his reluctance and told he must now live forever in the swamps.By one account the Pukeko is the spawn of Punga
Punga (mythology)
In Māori mythology, Punga is a supernatural being, the ancestor of sharks, lizards, rays, and all deformed, ugly things. All ugly and strange animals are Punga's children. Hence the saying Te aitanga a Punga used to describe an ugly person...
(the ancestor of sharks and reptiles - enemies of the people) but was claimed by relative (and high chief) Tawhaki
Tawhaki
In Māori mythology, Tāwhaki is a semi-supernatural being associated with lightning and thunder.-Genealogy:The genealogy of Tāwhaki varies somewhat in different accounts. In general, Tāwhaki is a grandson of Whaitiri, a cannibalistic goddess who marries the mortal Kaitangata , thinking that he...
. Tawhaki cut himself while cutting timber and so daubed the Pukeko's forehead with his own blood to signify their bond. So the mischievous Pukeko gets his character from Punga and his noble badge from Tawhaki.
Hunted by Māori
In a written account given over 100 years ago, Māori were described as trapping Pūkeko (near lake TaupoTaupo
Taupo is a town on the shore of Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the seat of the Taupo District Council and lies in the southern Waikato Region....
). They would choose a suitable place where Pūkeko were known to feed, and drive a series of stakes into the ground. These stakes were connected by a fine flax string. Hair-like nooses (made from cabbage tree fibre) were then dangled at the appropriate height, from the flax string, to catch Pūkeko as they fed after dusk, in the low light conditions.
Hunting today versus conservation
Pūkeko are protected as native gamebirds, meaning they may only be hunted under licence (from Fish and GameFish and Game New Zealand
Fish and Game New Zealand is a statutory body set up to advocate for recreational hunting and fishing in New Zealand.It was set up under the Conservation Act 1987 with the statutory responsibility for the sports of freshwater sport fishing and gamebird hunting...
) during the duck shooting season. Sometimes there is an extended season on the West Coast of the South Island. They are not generally hunted for food and most are left to rot after being killed. Conservationists argue that hunting is unnecessary and the birds do little harm, though some farmers argue otherwise. They were sometimes eaten by Maori but were considered poor food, being sinewy and tough.
Life cycle
Purple Swamphen
The Purple Swamphen , also known as the African Purple Swamphen, Purple Moorhen, Purple Gallinule, Pūkeko or Purple Coot, is a large bird in the family Rallidae . From its name in French, talève sultane, it is also known as the Sultana Bird...
. In New Zealand they nest, typically well hidden in the middle of a clump of raupo
Raupo
Raupo may refer to:*Typha orientalis, a New Zealand wetland plant*Typha muelleri, a New Zealand wetland plant *Raupo, a fictional town in the Footrot Flats cartoon...
, between August (end of winter) and March (start of autumn). Most eggs are laid between August and February with breeding reaching a peak in spring between September and December.