The Pukeko by Breeze

A Pukeko eats bugs and a variety of swamp and pasture vegetation. It also eats frogs,insect and insects from birds. Pukeko live peacefully by swamps in estuaries near the beach. They come from the rail family which includes the takahe and weka. A Pukeko can protect itself by flying and scratching with its fiery sharp red claws. The Pukeko splashes about to wash their beautiful dark black and blue feathers. Did you know that the Pukeko is a nature bird of Ne Zealand and it is also known as a small swamp hen. The scientific name is porphyria porphyria melanotus. There is a lengthy breeding season and the nests consist of bowls of grass made from available vegetation. Four to nine buff-eggs blotched with purple are usually laid. When pairs nest close stealing may occurs,sometimes two or three hens may share a nest. The Pukeko have fiery red claws that are pointy. The Pukeko walks or flies with there fiery red ruby feet or flys with there pretty ba lack and blue feathers.
By Breeze