Takahē

New Zealand · birds · rare animals · comeback story

Huge flightless bird. The takahē is the largest living member of the rail family, a group of mostly smaller birds. It's about the size of a chicken but much stockier and stronger.

Strikingly colorful. Takahē have bright blue-green feathers on their bodies, red beaks, and red eye-patches that make them unmistakable. They're one of New Zealand's most colorful birds.

Lost and found. Scientists thought takahē went extinct, but in 1948 explorers rediscovered a population living in remote New Zealand mountains. This was one of the most thrilling animal discoveries of the 20th century.

Grazing mountain birds. Takahē eat plants, seeds, and grasses from high-altitude grasslands. They can't fly, so they waddle through the mountains using their strong legs.

Very endangered still. Only about 400 takahē exist today because of introduced predators and habitat loss. Conservation efforts are working hard to protect this remarkable bird from disappearing again.