"Bird Facts!"

Time for a quick

"Bird Facts!"

This one is about South Island Notornis. The Notornis or Takahe (Notornis hochstetten, recently changed to Porphyrio hochstetten) is a large flightless rail (Rallidae) native to New Zealand. They are very rare and in the late 19th century were declared extinct, only to be rediscovered in 1948 by Geoffrey Orbell. 

Notornis/Porphyrio hochstetten by Glen Webber

A close (extant) relative of the South Island Notornis is the Purple Swamphen (known by the name Porphyrio porphyrio). Other common names you may know this bird by are African Purple Moorhen, Purple Coot, Sultana Bird (from the French name "taleve sultane") and Purple Gallinule. Do not confuse them with the related American Purple Gallinule (or Lillytrotter), Porphyrio martinicus. 

Purple Swamphen by Glen Threlfo (Double Glen!) 

Another relative, this time extinct, is the North Island Notornis or Moho (Notornis/Porphyrio mantelli), known only from skeletal remains, the name of which commemorates the naturalist and civil servant Walter Mantell. 

Notornis mantelli

Bye people! You decide whether you like Notornis or Takahe, Notornis or Porphyrio but I like Notornis both ways! More posts soon.